Compare towns
Becket vs Middlesex vs Tyringham vs Middlefield
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%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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 | Middlesex | Tyringham | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,943 |
494 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
59.2±2.7Highest 52% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7 46% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Tyringham 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 |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$163,333±$28kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$699,400±$96kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 49% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,050±$393Lowest 26% below 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 |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,632 49% above U.S. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | None 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.