Compare towns
Ashby vs Becket vs Plympton
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%).
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k 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 | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
1,962Lowest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
46.4±4.2Lowest 16% 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% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Ashby 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% |
38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Becket and Plympton 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 |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Plympton 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 |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Becket and Ashby 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 |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Plympton 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% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton 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 | — | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire | Plympton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.