Compare towns
Becket vs Middlefield vs Windham vs Washington
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%).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
352Lowest |
594 |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2% 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. |
56.5±7.7 45% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Washington 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% |
13.3%±5.9 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% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Middlefield 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. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
— | — |
| 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. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 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 |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.