Compare towns
Otis vs Erving vs Becket vs Oakham
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%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Otis | Erving | Becket | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
1,703 |
1,962Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
49±2.3 23% 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% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Erving 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% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 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 | $108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Otis 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 |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,408 60% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
$4,103Highest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Erving | Central Berkshire | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.