Compare towns
Becket vs Highgate vs Sheldon 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%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Sheldon | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% 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. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sheldon 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 |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.