Compare towns
Becket vs Springfield vs Oakham vs Otis
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%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Springfield | Oakham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
154,749Highest |
1,639 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| 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 36% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% 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 |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,103Highest 32% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Springfield | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.