Compare towns
Becket vs Sutton vs Waterville 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%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Sutton | Waterville | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Becket and Waterville 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% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville 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% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Oakham 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% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Oakham 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$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. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% 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. |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Becket and Oakham 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 |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
38 min 42% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 | 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.