Compare towns
Hampden vs Becket vs Granby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Granby has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Hampden | Becket | Granby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
1,962Lowest |
6,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
46.3±4.2Lowest 16% above MA |
| Hampden and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Becket and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±3.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Granby and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16k about the MA average |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$119,297±$33kHighest 15% above MA |
| Granby and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
$361,000±$82kHighest 36% below MA |
$352,600±$16kLowest 37% below MA |
| Becket and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
— |
| Becket and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$5,572 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Hampden 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | — | #259 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Central Berkshire | Granby |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Granby Jr Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
| 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.