Compare towns
Becket vs Maynard vs Washington 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%).
Maynard has the most expensive homes ($527k median).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ashby has the most kids (17% under 18).
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 | Maynard | Washington | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
10,712Highest |
526Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
| Washington 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Maynard 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 23% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Ashby 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
— | $1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
| Becket and Maynard 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Maynard 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Maynard | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— | — |
| 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.