Compare towns
Becket vs Calais vs Dummerston vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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.
| Measure | Becket | Calais | Dummerston | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,713 |
2,090Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Oakham 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 about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Becket and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.