What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).

Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Halifax	Becket
People
Population	847Lowest	1,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.
	Becket and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Halifax and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Becket and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S.	$80,417±$29kHighest about the U.S. average
	Becket and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.	$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Becket and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S.	$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S.
	Becket and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Highest 60% above U.S.	$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Becket and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Halifax and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Central Berkshire
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.