Compare towns
Becket vs Ware vs Middlefield vs Washington
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%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 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 | Ware | Middlefield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
10,048Highest |
352Lowest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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±$29k 23% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| 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 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Middlefield 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ware | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.