Compare towns
Becket vs Unity vs Washington 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%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Washington | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,375 |
526 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7 45% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7 46% above U.S. |
| Unity and Middlefield 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% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Becket and Washington 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%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Unity 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 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 |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Washington 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
| Washington 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. |
$1,625±$804Lowest 15% above 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 |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Unity School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.