Compare towns
Becket vs Woonsocket vs Otis 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Woonsocket | Otis | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
43,521Highest |
1,624Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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±$29k about the U.S. average |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Otis 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
| Otis 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. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047 about the U.S. average |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis 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 | — | #37 of 38 in RI | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Farmington River Reg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2 |
— | — |
| 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.