Compare towns
Becket vs Halifax vs Otis
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Halifax | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
847Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis and Halifax 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Otis 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis 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 9% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis 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 49% above U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Halifax School District | Farmington River Reg |
| 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 |
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.