Compare towns
Becket vs Warner vs Oakham 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%).
Warner has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Warner | Oakham | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
2,959Highest |
1,639 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Becket 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% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Oakham 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% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner and Oakham 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 |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Oakham 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. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Oakham 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. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% 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 |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warner and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Kearsarge Regional School District | Quabbin | — |
| 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 | 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.