Compare towns
Middlefield vs Pelham vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Pelham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
14,449Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 29% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Pelham 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 about the U.S. average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,107±$1k 49% above U.S. |
| 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 58% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Pelham School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.