What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).

Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Whately	Becket
People
Population	1,499Lowest	1,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA	49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA
	Becket and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Whately and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9%	21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Whately and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	45.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Becket and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA	$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA
	Whately and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA
	Whately and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA	$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA
	Becket and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,027Highest 16% below MA	$3,047Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Becket and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Whately and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Whately	Central Berkshire
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.