Compare towns
Becket vs Putnam 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 expensive homes ($361k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Putnam | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
9,292Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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±$29k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Middlefield 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
| Becket and Middlefield 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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 |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,926Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Middlefield 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.