Compare towns
Washington vs Somerset 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).
Somerset has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Somerset | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
18,298Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
47±2.2Lowest 18% 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% |
18.9%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Somerset and Becket 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% |
25.3%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Somerset 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 |
$112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Somerset 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 |
$418,800±$18kHighest 25% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Somerset and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Somerset 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 |
$4,977Highest 17% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Somerset 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Washington 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 | — | #132 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.