Compare towns
Becket vs Otis vs Sheldon vs Washington
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Sheldon | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,624 |
2,267Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Washington and Otis 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Otis and Washington 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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
| Otis and Washington 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. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,381Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Farmington River Reg | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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 |
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.