Compare towns
Middlefield vs Needham vs Florida 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Needham | Florida | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352Lowest |
32,459Highest |
668 |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Middlefield and Florida 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Florida 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Middlefield and Needham 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 |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Florida | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.