Compare towns
Ashby vs Becket vs Newfields vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,962Lowest |
2,023 |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Ashburnham 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 43% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Becket and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire | Newfields School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 7 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.