Compare towns
Otis vs Ware vs Becket vs Colrain
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 most people working from home (22.3%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Becket | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,962 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
49.6±8.7 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Becket 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
$4,317Highest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Lowest 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Becket 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 | Ware | Central Berkshire | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.