Compare towns
Ashby vs Mendon 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%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
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 | Mendon | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
6,325Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest 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% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Mendon 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 |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Mendon 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mendon-Upton | 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 |
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.