Compare towns
Washington vs Ware vs Lee 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 highest household income ($95k).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Ware | Lee | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
10,048Highest |
5,719 |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Washington and Lee 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Highest 27% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ware 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Lee | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.