Compare towns
Becket vs Whately 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%).
Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Whately | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,499 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
49.3±6.7Lowest 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% |
16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whately 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 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 23% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Whately and Middlefield 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 |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Whately 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 |
$977±$125Lowest 45% 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 |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Whately | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.