Compare towns
Becket vs Randolph vs Middlefield vs Lee
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%).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Lee has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Randolph | Middlefield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
4,843 |
352Lowest |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Lee 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% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Lee 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. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Becket and Lee 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. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| 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 |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,926Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.