Compare towns
Ashby vs Petersham 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).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Petersham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
1,185Lowest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham 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% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham 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±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Ashby and Petersham 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 |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Petersham 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 |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Petersham 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 |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Petersham 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 | Petersham | 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.