Compare towns
Becket vs Tyringham vs Unity 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%).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Unity | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
494Lowest |
1,375 |
3,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
59.2±2.7Highest 52% above U.S. |
58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
| Tyringham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Tyringham and Unity 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$163,333±$28kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$699,400±$96kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,050±$393Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Becket and Unity 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 |
$4,632 49% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Unity School District | 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 | 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.