Compare towns
Otis vs Sutton vs Whately 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Whately 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 | Sutton | Whately | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
9,452Highest |
1,499Lowest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Whately 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Sutton and Whately 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Sutton | Whately | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.