Compare towns
Becket vs Lawrence 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 the most homeowners (98.2%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Lawrence | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
88,736Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| 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±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Lawrence 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 |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,318±$924Lowest 25% below MA |
| Becket and Lawrence 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 |
$3,422Highest 43% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 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% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis 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 | — | #278 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lawrence | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.