Compare towns
Becket vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
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 | Lancaster | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
8,606Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Becket 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Becket and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Lancaster and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,318±$924Lowest 25% below MA |
| Lancaster and Becket 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Lancaster 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% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Otis 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Nashoba | 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 |
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.