Compare towns
Becket vs Ashburnham vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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 | Becket | Ashburnham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
6,415Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Becket and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Becket and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ashburnham-Westminster | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.