Compare towns

Becket vs Douglas 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%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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.

MeasureBecketDouglasWesthampton
People
Population
1,962
9,207Highest
1,552Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±4.7Highest
24% above MA
44±2.6Lowest
10% 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%
21.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
Douglas 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%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
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%
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Westhampton 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
23% below MA
$152,267±$10kHighest
46% above MA
$100,000±$7k
4% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,000±$82kLowest
36% below MA
$470,600±$29kHighest
16% below MA
$413,200±$24k
26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,107±$1kHighest
20% above MA
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$1,304±$229Lowest
26% below MA
Becket and Douglas 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
$6,338
6% above MA
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Becket and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
13 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1969Lowest
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
23% above MA
34 min
16% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
13.3%±4.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
Douglas 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 — #177 of 282 in MA —
School district Central Berkshire Douglas Hampshire · Westhampton
High school in town None in town Douglas High School Hampshire Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
10.0Highest
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.