Compare towns
Becket vs Pepperell 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%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Pepperell | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Lowest |
11,663Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Becket 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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 |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Pepperell 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 |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
| Becket and Pepperell 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 |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Pepperell 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% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None 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.