Compare towns
Becket vs Wareham vs Ashby vs Oakham
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%).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Wareham | Ashby | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
23,302Highest |
3,211 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
50.5±3 26% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
| Wareham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Ashby 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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 MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 23% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Ashby and Oakham 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$390,500±$30k 31% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Wareham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Becket and Wareham 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 |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Wareham 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Becket 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Wareham | North Middlesex | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.