Compare towns
Ashby vs Berwick vs Becket
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).
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Berwick | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
8,175Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% 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% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Ashby 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% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berwick and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Berwick 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. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Berwick 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. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Berwick 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Central Berkshire |
| 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.