Compare towns

Becket vs Oakham vs Otis vs Tyringham

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 affordable homes ($361k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Otis has the shortest commute (34 min average).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).

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.

MeasureBecketOakhamOtisTyringham
People
Population
1,962Highest
1,639
1,624
494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
49.6±4.7
24% above MA
49±2.3Lowest
23% above MA
51±3.2
28% above MA
59.2±2.7Highest
48% above MA
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.1%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
8.7%±5.3Lowest
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%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
28%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
35.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Tyringham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%
MA: 47.3%
40.3%
MA: 47.3%
39.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
Oakham and Tyringham 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±$20k
about the MA average
$108,898±$6k
5% above MA
$163,333±$28kHighest
57% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,000±$82kLowest
36% below MA
$420,100±$20k
25% below MA
$396,700±$40k
29% below MA
$699,400±$96kHighest
24% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,107±$1kHighest
20% above MA
$1,174±$81
33% below MA
$1,318±$924
25% below MA
$1,050±$393Lowest
40% below MA
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
49% below MA
$4,103
32% below MA
$2,408Lowest
60% below MA
$4,632Highest
23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
63.3%±100
MA: 51.8%
60%±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%Highest
MA: 10%
4.4%
MA: 10%
1.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
91.6%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
13 yrs newer than MA
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
23% above MA
39 minHighest
32% above MA
34 minLowest
15% above MA
36 min
23% above MA
Work from home
13.3%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.3%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
26.2%±8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Tyringham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Central Berkshire Quabbin 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 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.