Compare towns
Otis vs Barre vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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.
| Measure | Otis | Barre | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% 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 | 15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Barre and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Otis and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Otis and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest 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 | 1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Quabbin | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.