What stands out worked out from the figures below

Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Becket	Ashby
People
Population	1,962Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA	50.5±3Highest 26% 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	15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	17%±3.5Highest 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+	21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.5%±4.3Highest 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+	45.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Becket and Ashby 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	$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA
	Ashby and Becket 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	$390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA
	Ashby and Becket 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	$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA
	Becket and Ashby 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	$6,034Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Becket and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest MA: 10%	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.8%±5.8Highest 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
School district	Central Berkshire	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.