The Town FilesBecket, Massachusetts
Town in Berkshire County · population 1,931 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $361,000
- Household income
- $80,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 49.6
Becket is a town of 1,931 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $361,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks quieter than 99% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
How Becket ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Becket is worth $361,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $80,417, which is more affordable than 54% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,107 a month. 98.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Becket | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $361,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,107 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $80,417 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 98.2% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 46.3% | — |
Who lives in Becket
| People | Becket | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 35.8 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Becket
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 78.4 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Becket since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 3, 1997 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 3, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Berkshire County since 1996
Berkshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Berkshire County
Berkshire County had 57,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Becket itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Becket
1 public school with 91 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Becket Washington School | PK-5 | 91 | 11.4 |
Towns near Becket
- Chester, MA5.4 mi · 552 people · home $257,400
- Otis, MA5.7 mi · 1,634 people · home $396,700
- Lee, MA7.7 mi · 5,788 people · home $352,700
- Chester, MA7.8 mi · 1,228 people · home $281,900
- Lee, MA8.6 mi · 1,880 people · home $300,500
- Peru, MA8.8 mi · 814 people · home $267,400
- Blandford, MA9.4 mi · 1,215 people · home $287,900
- Monterey, MA9.9 mi · 1,095 people · home $603,200
Becket questions
Is Becket, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Becket scores better for retirees than 72% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 99%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Becket?
The median owner-occupied home in Becket is valued at $361,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,417, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $2,107 a month.
What is the weather like in Becket?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 78.4 inches of snow.
Does Becket get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Becket since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 3, 1997. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)