Compare towns
Becket vs Dover vs Middlefield vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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.
| Measure | Becket | Dover | Middlefield | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,466 |
352Lowest |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$29k about the U.S. average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$103,750±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$332,800±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% 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 | $2,107±$1k 49% above U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Ashby 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | North Middlesex |
| 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 | 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.