Compare towns
Becket vs Middlefield vs Upton vs Tyringham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Becket | Middlefield | Upton | Tyringham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
352Lowest |
8,189Highest |
494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
56.9±3.7 42% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
| Tyringham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Tyringham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
| Tyringham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
| Tyringham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,050±$393 40% below MA |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.