Compare towns
Sheldon vs Becket vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Irasburg has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Sheldon | Becket | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,962 |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.3±5.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Becket and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$98,534±$13kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Irasburg and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$230,800±$22kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,063±$86Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,966Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17%±28.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Central Berkshire | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None 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.