Compare towns
Becket vs Exeter 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 affordable homes ($361k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Ashby 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Becket and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.