Compare towns
Ashby vs Sterling 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 shortest commute (33 min average).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Sterling | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
8,183Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Sterling 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Sterling 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 |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Sterling 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wachusett | 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.