Compare towns
Becket vs Plainfield vs Lanesborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Lanesborough has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Lanesborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,314Lowest |
3,028Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
51.2±4.4Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lanesborough and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lanesborough and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lanesborough and Becket 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Lanesborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$86,219±$19kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Lanesborough and Becket 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$299,400±$36kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,349±$199 5% below U.S. |
| Becket and Lanesborough 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 |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,007Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±41.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Becket 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 | — | — | #75 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.