Compare towns
Becket vs Dedham vs Needham 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 the most homeowners (98.2%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
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 | Dedham | Needham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,318±$924Lowest 25% below MA |
| Needham and Becket 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Otis 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Dedham | — | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.