The Town FilesOtis, Massachusetts
Town in Berkshire County · population 1,634 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $396,700
- Household income
- $108,898
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 72 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 51.0
Otis is a town of 1,634 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $396,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks quieter than 94% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Massachusetts towns, better for families than 74% of Massachusetts towns.
How Otis ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Otis is worth $396,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $108,898, which is more affordable than 88% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,318 a month. 89.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otis | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $396,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,318 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $108,898 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 89.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 51.1% | — |
Who lives in Otis
| People | Otis | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.0 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 22.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 33.6 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Otis
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.4 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otis since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 3, 1997 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 2, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Berkshire County since 1996
Berkshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Berkshire County
Berkshire County had 57,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Otis itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Otis
1 public school with 129 students, about 9.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington River Elementary | PK-6 | 129 | 9.2 |
Towns near Otis
- Becket, MA5.7 mi · 1,931 people · home $361,000
- Blandford, MA6.8 mi · 1,215 people · home $287,900
- Sandisfield, MA6.9 mi · 989 people · home $360,300
- Monterey, MA7.2 mi · 1,095 people · home $603,200
- Chester, MA7.5 mi · 552 people · home $257,400
- Chester, MA8.9 mi · 1,228 people · home $281,900
- Lee, MA10.2 mi · 5,788 people · home $352,700
- Huntington, MA10.3 mi · 857 people · home $320,000
Otis questions
Is Otis, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otis scores better for retirees than 55% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 94%. 28.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.0).
How much does a house cost in Otis?
The median owner-occupied home in Otis is valued at $396,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,898, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,318 a month.
What is the weather like in Otis?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 72.4 inches of snow.
Does Otis get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 3, 1997. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)