Compare towns
Becket vs Erving vs Washington 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%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Westhampton has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
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 | Erving | Washington | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,703 |
526Lowest |
1,552 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westhampton and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westhampton 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 23% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$100,000±$7kHighest 4% below MA |
| Westhampton and Washington 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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton and Washington 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 |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% 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 | $3,047 49% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Erving 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 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 | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Erving | — | 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 | 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.