Compare towns
Becket vs Oakham vs Ware 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%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Oakham | Ware | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
1,639Lowest |
10,048Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Oakham 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 MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Oakham 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 23% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
| Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Oakham and Ashby 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 |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
| Becket and Ashby 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 |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ware 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Quabbin | Ware | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.