Compare towns
Becket vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Sheldon | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
2,267Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham and Becket 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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±$29k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham 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 9% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Oakham 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.