Compare towns
Becket vs Sutton vs Otis 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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton | Otis | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
9,452Highest |
1,624 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Otis 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Otis 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% 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 | $3,047 49% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Otis 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Sutton | Farmington River Reg | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.