Compare towns
Otis vs Mendon vs Oakham vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Oakham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,113Lowest |
1,639 |
1,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. 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 19% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| 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 23% below U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,047 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.