Compare towns
Ashby vs Bow 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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Bow | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
8,335Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% 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% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Bow 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bow School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.