Compare towns
Washington vs Oakham vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Washington | Oakham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
1,639 |
1,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Highest 27% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quabbin | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.