Compare towns
Becket vs Williston 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 the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Williston | Oakham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
10,144Highest |
1,639Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest 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. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Oakham 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Oakham 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% |
54.9%Highest 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% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 49% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Becket and Williston 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 |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Williston 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% |
4.3% 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% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 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. |
20 minLowest 25% below 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% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None 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.