Compare towns
Becket vs Otis vs Unity vs Oakham
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%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Unity | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,624 |
1,375Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest 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% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest 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 |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham 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±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis 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. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below 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 | $3,047 about the U.S. average |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 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 | Unity School District | Quabbin |
| 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 | 4 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.