Compare towns
Sheldon vs Becket vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,962 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Becket and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Becket 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% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$80,417±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sheldon 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. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% 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. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.