Compare towns
Otis vs Middlesex 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 most renters (10.3% rent).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Middlesex | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
1,943 |
1,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 35% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Otis and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,047 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.