Compare towns
Becket vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Springfield | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,122 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Becket and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Springfield 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Becket 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. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% 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 |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | — |
| High school 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.