What stands out worked out from the figures below

Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Becket	Sheldon
People
Population	1,962Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$29kHighest about the U.S. average	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
	Becket and Sheldon 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.	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Becket and Sheldon 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.	$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Becket and Sheldon 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	$3,578Highest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Becket and Sheldon 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%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Central Berkshire	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.