Compare towns
Becket vs Otis vs Sutton vs Lee
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 |
1,624 |
790Lowest |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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±$29k about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Otis 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. |
$1,318±$924Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,980Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Lee 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 | — | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Farmington River Reg | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.