Compare towns
Becket vs Dover vs Washington 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 the most homeowners (98.2%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Dover | Washington | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,466 |
526Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Washington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Becket 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% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham 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±$29k about the U.S. average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Washington 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. |
$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
$370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Washington 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. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
— | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Becket and Oakham 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 |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Dover 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Quabbin |
| High school 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.