Compare towns
Becket vs Ashburnham vs Otis
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).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
6,415Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Becket 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% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Becket 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 |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Otis 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 |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
| Otis 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 |
$1,318±$924Lowest 25% 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 | $3,047 49% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Ashburnham 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 | Farmington River Reg |
| 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.