Compare towns
Ashby vs Jackson 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 kids (17% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
897Lowest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Ashby 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket and Ashby 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 43% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Jackson 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 17% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Jackson 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. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Jackson School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.