Compare towns
Tyringham vs Spencer vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tyringham has the highest household income ($163k).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Tyringham | Spencer | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 494Lowest |
12,008Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Spencer and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,632Highest 23% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #261 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.