Compare towns
Becket vs Salisbury 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Salisbury | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,200 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Middlefield 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 about the U.S. average |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Salisbury 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. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% 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. |
$1,443±$984Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$4,926Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.