Compare towns
Ashby vs Canton vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
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 | Canton | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
24,748Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Canton 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 11% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Canton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$6,560Highest 9% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.