Compare towns
Middlefield vs Unity 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 highest household income ($104k).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Unity | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
1,375 |
1,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7 46% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Unity and Middlefield 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% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Becket and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlefield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Becket and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Unity School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.