Compare towns
Washington vs Hingham vs Lenox vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Lenox has the most renters (28.6% 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 | Washington | Hingham | Lenox | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
24,283Highest |
5,079 |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Lenox and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lenox 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Hingham and Becket 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Hingham 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hingham | Lenox | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
7.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.