Compare towns
Otis vs Sheldon 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 most people working from home (22.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Sheldon | Oakham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,639 |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Oakham 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29k 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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below 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. |
$1,286±$379 9% 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,103Highest 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% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest 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. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 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. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quabbin | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None 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.