Compare towns
Otis vs Lancaster vs Tyringham vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Lancaster | Tyringham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
8,606Highest |
494Lowest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2 28% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Tyringham 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±$6k 5% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Tyringham and Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Lancaster and Becket 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Lancaster 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% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% 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 |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Tyringham 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Nashoba | — | 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 | 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.