What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).

Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Oakham	Becket
People
Population	1,639Lowest	1,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA	49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA
	Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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+	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±2Lowest 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	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average	$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA
	Oakham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA	$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA
	Oakham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA	$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA
	Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Highest 32% below MA	$3,047Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest 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	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	36 minLowest 23% above MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	Central Berkshire
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.