What stands out worked out from the figures below

Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Becket	Oakham
People
Population	1,962Highest	1,639Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA
	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 MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	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 MA: 47.3%	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham 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 23% below MA	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average
	Oakham 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	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA
	Oakham 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 20% above MA	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
	Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,047Lowest 49% below MA	$4,103Highest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Becket and Oakham 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%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 23% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Central Berkshire	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.