Compare towns
Becket vs Gardner 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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Gardner | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
21,148Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Oakham 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Becket 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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±$29k 23% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
| Oakham and Becket 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Becket 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 |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| 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 49% below MA |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Gardner | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.