Compare towns
Unity vs Becket vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Unity | Becket | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
1,962 |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Unity and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Unity and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$228,000±$62kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Becket and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,099±$85Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Becket and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Unity 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 | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Central Berkshire | Fall Mountain Regional 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.