Compare towns
Ashby vs Everett vs Becket vs Townsend
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 most people working from home (17.8%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Everett | Becket | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
50,045Highest |
1,962Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Townsend 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Becket and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest about the MA average |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Everett | Central Berkshire | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.