Compare towns
Ashby vs Becket vs Ripton vs Plympton
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 the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
1,962 |
508Lowest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2Lowest 19% 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Plympton 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% |
38.4%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% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
— | $555±$148Lowest 61% 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. |
$6,628Highest 113% 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% |
50.8%±40.6 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% |
10.3% 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% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Plympton |
| 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.