Compare towns
Ashby vs Ripton vs Becket vs Ashburnham
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 people working from home (17.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Becket | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
508Lowest |
1,962 |
6,415Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Ashburnham 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. |
— | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Becket and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Ripton 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 | — | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Central Berkshire | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.