What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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	Otis	Becket
People
Population	1,624Lowest	1,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±3.2Highest 28% above MA	49.6±4.7Lowest 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%	15.3%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Becket and Otis 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%	21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Becket and Otis 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	$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA
	Otis and Becket 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	$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA
	Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,318±$924Lowest 25% 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	$3,047Highest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±100Lowest 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%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Farmington River Reg	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.