Compare towns
Becket vs Ripton vs Windham 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 the most homeowners (98.2%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Lanesborough has the most affordable homes ($299k 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 | Ripton | Windham | Lanesborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
508Lowest |
594 |
3,028Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lanesborough and Windham 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Windham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$86,219±$19k 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$299,400±$36kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Becket 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. |
— | — | $1,349±$199Lowest 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 |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,007 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±41.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None 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.