Compare towns
Becket vs Windham vs Ashby vs Oakham
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%).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Windham | Ashby | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
594Lowest |
3,211Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham 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 |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| 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±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% 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. |
— | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Windham 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | Quabbin |
| 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.