Compare towns
Otis vs Lenox 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%).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Lenox | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
5,079Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2 28% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lenox 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 |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Otis and Lenox 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 |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Lenox 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 |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% 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 |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest 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% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Lenox 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 | — | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Lenox | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6 |
— |
| 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.