Compare towns
Washington vs Reading 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
25,612Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Washington and Becket 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Becket and Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Reading 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.