Compare towns
Becket vs Tyringham 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 the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
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 | Tyringham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
494Lowest |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Tyringham 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 |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% 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 |
$4,632 23% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Tyringham 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%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 |
36 min 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.