Compare towns
Becket vs Athol vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Westhampton has the highest household income ($100k).
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 | Athol | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
12,011Highest |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
| Becket and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westhampton and Athol 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 23% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$100,000±$7kHighest 4% below MA |
| Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
| Becket and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Westhampton and Becket 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Athol-Royalston | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.