Compare towns
Becket vs Plainfield vs Westhampton vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Westhampton has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
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 | Plainfield | Westhampton | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
15,141Highest |
1,552Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Westhampton 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 about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$413,200±$24kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Westhampton 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 49% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229 8% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Becket and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Westhampton 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Plainfield School District | Hampshire · Westhampton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.