Compare towns
Tyringham vs Walden vs Lee 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
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Becket has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
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 | Walden | Lee | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 494Lowest |
1,037 |
5,719Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7Highest 52% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Becket and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Walden 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 102% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$393 26% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,632Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tyringham and Walden 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 | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Lee | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.