Compare towns
Middlefield vs Dover vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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.
| Measure | Middlefield | Dover | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
2,308Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
47.5±4Lowest 19% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
— | $2,107±$1kLowest 20% above MA |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| 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.