Compare towns
Ashby vs Mendon vs Townsend 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Townsend | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
1,113Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Ashby 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 43% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Townsend 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. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.