Compare towns
Otis vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
27,793Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% 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% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Becket 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Wakefield 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 |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.