Compare towns
Otis vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 51).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Otis 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Needham | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.