Compare towns
Becket vs Exeter vs Townsend vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Westhampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Exeter | Townsend | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
16,151Highest |
9,100 |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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 about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,304±$229Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Becket and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,476 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | North Middlesex Regional | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
13.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.