Compare towns
Becket vs Otis vs Ware
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 most people working from home (22.3%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,624Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 23% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ware 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Becket 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Farmington River Reg | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.