Compare towns
Ashby vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield 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 most people working from home (17.8%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
8,517 |
15,141Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield 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% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn 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. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Ashby and Brooklyn 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. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above 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. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Plainfield 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. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% 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% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Becket 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.