Compare towns
Becket vs Whately vs Oakham
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%).
Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Whately | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,499Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
| Becket and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Whately 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±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Whately and Oakham 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 |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| 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 49% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Whately | 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 |
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.