Compare towns
Becket vs Hingham vs Otis vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
Ashby has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Hingham | Otis | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
24,283Highest |
1,624Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
| Otis 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
| Hingham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047 49% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Otis 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Otis 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hingham | Farmington River Reg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.