Compare towns
Tyringham vs Townsend vs Becket vs Lee
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 most expensive homes ($699k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Townsend | Becket | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 494Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,962 |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Tyringham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Lee 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Lee 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Tyringham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Becket and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,632 23% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Lee 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire | Lee |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.