Compare towns
Otis vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Hardwick | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 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±$924 25% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% 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 |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Quabbin | Central Berkshire |
| 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.