Compare towns
Becket vs Townsend vs Westhampton vs Oakham
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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Becket | Townsend | Westhampton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
9,100Highest |
1,552Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
49±2.3 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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Oakham 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 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+ | 45.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Oakham 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Townsend and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Townsend and Oakham 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 |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Becket and Townsend 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | North Middlesex | Hampshire · Westhampton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.