Compare towns
Becket vs Gorham 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 affordable homes ($361k median).
Gorham has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Gorham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
18,300Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Oakham 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. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Becket and Gorham 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 |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Gorham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Gorham Public Schools | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.