Compare towns
Ashby vs Dedham vs Dedham 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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Dedham | Dedham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Dedham 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #200 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Dedham | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.