Compare towns
Ashby vs Becket vs Maynard
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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Maynard has the most expensive homes ($527k 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 | Ashby | Becket | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,962Lowest |
10,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby and Maynard 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Maynard 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Maynard and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Becket and Maynard 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Maynard 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire | Maynard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.7 |
| 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.