Compare towns
Becket vs Dummerston vs Newfane 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Dummerston | Newfane | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
2,090 |
1,456Lowest |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Ashby 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Ashby 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 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 |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$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±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Becket and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older 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. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None 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.