Compare towns
Becket vs Leyden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Leyden | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
637Lowest |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
| Leyden 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% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
| Ashby and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA |
| Ashby and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,917±$451 9% above MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
| Becket and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,651 22% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Leyden 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% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Becket 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 | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.