Compare towns
Becket vs Sturbridge vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Sturbridge | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
9,960Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Becket 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 23% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 20% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| 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 49% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.