Compare towns
Ashby vs Tyringham 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).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Tyringham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
494Lowest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 26% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest 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% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Tyringham 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 |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Ashby 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 |
$4,632 23% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Tyringham 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school 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.