Compare towns
Becket vs Oakham vs Unity
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%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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.
| Measure | Becket | Oakham | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,639 |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| 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 49% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
| Becket and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Unity 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District |
| 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.