Compare towns
Becket vs Middlefield vs Windham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Windham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
352Lowest |
594 |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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 about the U.S. average |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Becket and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 49% above U.S. |
$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
— | $1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Lee 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 | — | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | — | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
U.S. 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.