Compare towns
Washington vs Deerfield vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Washington | Deerfield | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
5,158Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Washington and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Becket and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Deerfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Deerfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Becket 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Deerfield · Frontier | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.