Compare towns
Otis vs Ware vs Colrain 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 highest household income ($109k).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Ware | Colrain | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
6,369Highest |
1,627 |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Otis and Colrain 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 5% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% 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 |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,317Highest 28% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ware 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | — | Mohawk Trail | 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 | 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.