Becket offers picturesque rural landscapes in the Berkshires
Located within the Berkshires, a rural region in the highlands of western Massachusetts, Becket is home to sprawling forests, small lakes, and miles of hiking trails. The natural landscapes have attracted lots of camping organizations and homebuyers looking for acreage and seclusion. However, retail space is limited except for a few restaurants and performing arts venues like Jacob’s Pillow. The relatively remote location means that most residents rely on private well water, and some of the area’s country roads can get muddy and difficult to navigate as snow melts in the springtime. However, Beckett has been building out aspects of its infrastructure, adding a town-owned fiber-optic network. “I’ve been up here 40 years, and it wasn’t until recently that we got high-speed internet,” says Stephen Schoenfeld, a real estate agent with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty and resident of the Berkshires. “It’s great for people who want to work from home.”
Ranch-style homes and cabins on large, wooded lots
Most of Becket is made up of narrow country roads with spaced-out homes, though there are some areas on the community’s south side, like Sherwood Forest and Indian Lake, which have denser residential development. Ranch-style homes, farmhouses and wood-built cabins are all commonplace, including mostly late-20th and early-21st-century builds with some 19th-century options dotted around the area. Lot sizes vary widely, including many half-acre and full-acre parcels, and some properties span as many as 10 acres. The community has a median home price of $347,000, though some small cabins can sell for less than $100,000. Larger custom homes on multi-acre lots, including some with lakefront access, can range from $700,000 to $1 million; a small selection of homes with custom landscaping can even range from $1.3 million to $1.9 million. Empty lots are plentiful and typically sell for between $9,000 and $120,000 for up to 5 acres. The rural location means that most homeowners rely on private well water.
An abundance of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing
Much of Becket is made up of undeveloped pine and oak forests, with a broad network of hiking trails. Becket Historic Quarry & Forest, a 280-acre nature preserve, has six different trails totaling 7 miles and is commonly used for cross-country skiing in the winter. Visitors can view old equipment and exposed stone near the old quarry site, which used to be a mining site for Chester Blue granite. The Appalachian Trail also passes through Becket, connecting much of the East Coast along an almost 2,200-mile pathway. Many organizations operate summer camps in the general area, and several lakes and ponds are dotted across the landscape for kayaking and fishing, though many are privately owned. Located on Main Street, Becket Center Town Park has a playground and small athletic courts.
A small selection of locally owned restaurants within the community
Becket has a small Main Street, home to the local Town Hall and the Becket Athenaeum public library. Small businesses near the town center include Neon Newt, a small café serving American fare, and Route 8 Pub. On the other side of the community, The Dream Away Lodge is one of the largest gathering spots, housed in an over 200-year-old historic building surrounded by wilderness. Rumored to have once acted as a speakeasy, the lodge now hosts an upscale restaurant, cocktail lounge and music venue. Grocery store options are limited; Becket Country Store is a nearby convenience store, and larger grocery stores like Big Y World Class Market are 10 miles away.
Nine-week-long dance festival hosted at Jacob’s Pillow
The Berkshires region is well-known for its abundance of art and culture festivals. “We have Jacob’s Pillow, which is a world-renowned dance venue,” Schoenfeld says. The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival takes place over nine weeks beginning in June, featuring workshops and lectures in addition to classical and modern dance performances.
Local kids attend Central Berkshire Public Schools
Becket Washinton Elementary, a part of Central Berkshire Public Schools, is located on Main Street and earns a B-minus from Niche. Nessacus Regional Middle earns a B-minus and Wahconah Regional High earns a B, both located more than 10 miles away in Dalton. Wahconah Regional High offers a range of career-oriented classes, including engineering, accounting, and construction technology.
Proximity to Interstate 90 and surrounding towns
Interstate 90 passes through Becket’s south side, leading over 50 miles to Springfield. Pittsfield, another nearby town, is less than 15 miles away. As the snow melts in spring and rainfall picks up, country roads can get muddy and difficult to navigate. Berkshire Medical Center, the nearest hospital, is about 15 miles away in Pittsfield. Bradley International Airport is less than 50 miles away.
