Compare towns
Ashby vs Becket vs Ripton vs Hampden
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 most kids (17% under 18).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
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 | Ripton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,962 |
508Lowest |
4,946Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Ashby 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Ashby 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. |
— | $1,132±$107Lowest 20% 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 | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Ripton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Ripton 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 | — | — | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| 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 | 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.