Compare towns
Ashby vs Becket vs Putney
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 highest household income ($116k).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
1,962Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Becket and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.