Compare towns
Ashby vs Windsor Locks vs Windsor Locks vs Becket
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 highest household income ($116k).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Windsor Locks | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
12,579Highest |
12,579Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Becket 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Windsor Locks School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.