Compare towns
Middlefield vs Mansfield 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 oldest population (median age 56.9).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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 | Mansfield | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
23,931Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% 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% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest 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% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield 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 |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Mansfield and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,107±$1k 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 |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | #60 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Mansfield | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.