Compare towns
Becket vs Sutton vs Oakham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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 | Sutton | Oakham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
2,239 |
1,639Lowest |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 9% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| 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 49% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sutton 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 |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Ashby 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.