Compare towns
Becket vs Erving vs Otis vs Oakham
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%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Erving | Otis | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,703 |
1,624Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
49±2.3 23% 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% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 23% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Otis 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 |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$2,408 60% below MA |
$4,103Highest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Erving | Farmington River Reg | 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 |
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.