Compare towns
Ayer 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
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Ayer | Oakham | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,639 |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
| Oakham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
| Ayer and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 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 | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.