Compare towns
Ashby vs Worcester vs Townsend 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 people working from home (17.8%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Worcester | Townsend | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
207,055Highest |
9,100 |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Becket 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | North Middlesex | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
13.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.