Compare towns
Becket vs Dudley vs Ware 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%).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Dudley | Ware | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Ware 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
| Otis and Dudley 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 |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ware 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.