Compare towns
Becket vs Otis vs Sutton vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Sutton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,624Lowest |
9,452Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Sutton 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 |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Becket and Lee 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 |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 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% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Otis 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 | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Farmington River Reg | Sutton | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.