Compare towns
Becket vs Otis vs Upton vs Oakham
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%).
Otis has the shortest commute (34 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,624Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Otis and Becket 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%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Oakham 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%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 23% below MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| 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 49% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Farmington River Reg | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.