Compare towns
Ashby vs Oakham vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Ashby | Oakham | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Highest |
1,639 |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
| Ashby and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
| Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 about the MA average |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashby and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Westhampton 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 | North Middlesex | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.