What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Easthampton	Becket
People
Population	16,086Highest	1,962Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA	49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA
	Becket and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Easthampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA	$80,417±$29kHighest 23% below MA
	Becket and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA	$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA
	Easthampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA	$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA
	Becket and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 18% below MA	$3,047Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Becket and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Easthampton and Becket 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	#92 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Easthampton	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Easthampton High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.