Compare towns
Becket vs Unity vs Lanesborough
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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Lanesborough has the shortest commute (22 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 | Unity | Lanesborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,375Lowest |
3,028Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51.2±4.4 32% above U.S. |
| Unity and Lanesborough 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lanesborough 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Lanesborough 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 |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$86,219±$19k 7% above U.S. |
| Unity and Lanesborough 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$299,400±$36k 10% below U.S. |
| Becket and Lanesborough 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. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,349±$199Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Becket and Unity 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 |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,007 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±41.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Lanesborough 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Unity 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 | — | — | #75 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Unity School District | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None 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.