Compare towns
Ashby vs Otis 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 kids (17% under 18).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Otis | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
1,624Lowest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Otis and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis 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% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Ashby and Otis 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 |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Otis 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 32% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Otis 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 |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis 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 | Farmington River Reg | 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.