Compare towns
Ashby vs Becket vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Ashby | Becket | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,962Lowest |
9,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Becket and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | — | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
| 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.