What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.

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

Measure	Lunenburg	Becket
People
Population	11,902Highest	1,962Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA	49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA
	Becket and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lunenburg and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.3%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Becket and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lunenburg and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA	$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA
	Lunenburg and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA	$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA
	Lunenburg and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Lowest 12% above MA	$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA
	Becket and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Highest 7% above MA	$3,047Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Becket and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	36 minLowest 23% above MA
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Lunenburg	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Lunenburg High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.