Compare towns
Becket vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Otis has the most renters (10.3% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,943 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Becket and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.