Compare towns
Becket vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($361k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Tyringham has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Needham | Tyringham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
32,459Highest |
494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 23% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$163,333±$28k 57% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$699,400±$96k 24% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
| Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Tyringham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.