Compare towns
Leyden vs Becket vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Leyden | Becket | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,962Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Becket and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Becket and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
| Leyden and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Lowest 9% above MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
— |
| Becket and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school 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.