Compare towns
Becket vs Vershire 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%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Vershire | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
842Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3Lowest 17% 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% |
19.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Vershire and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vershire 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% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire 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 |
$71,618±$12kLowest 11% 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. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% 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. |
$1,117±$80Lowest 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 |
$4,640Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Vershire 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% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Quabbin |
| High school 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.