Compare towns
Becket vs Windham vs Middlefield vs Oakham
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 the most homeowners (98.2%).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Windham | Middlefield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
594 |
352Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham 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 |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% 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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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. |
— | $2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below 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 |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | — | Quabbin |
| High school 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.