Compare towns
Becket vs Webster vs Oakham vs Middlefield
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%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Webster | Oakham | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
17,748Highest |
1,639 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Oakham 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$29k 23% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 36% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Webster | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.