Compare towns
Becket vs Otis vs Putney vs Ashby
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%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ashby has the most kids (17% under 18).
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 | Otis | Putney | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,624Lowest |
2,622 |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
| Otis and Ashby 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% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Putney 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% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Otis and Ashby 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. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Ashby 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Farmington River Reg | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.