Compare towns
Becket vs Unity vs Westhampton 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).
Westhampton has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Westhampton | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,375 |
1,552 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9Lowest 27% 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westhampton 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% |
25.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westhampton 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 about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Westhampton 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. |
$413,200±$24kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
| Westhampton 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±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,304±$229Lowest 8% 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 |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% 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% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% 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% |
91.4%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. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westhampton and Becket 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 | Hampshire · Westhampton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.