Compare towns
Becket vs Barre vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Becket | Barre | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
5,572Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Barre and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Otis and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
| Otis and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047 49% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.