Compare towns
Ashby vs Halifax 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 most people working from home (17.8%).
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Halifax | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
7,748Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Ashby 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% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Halifax 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 |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Halifax 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Halifax 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Halifax | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.