Compare towns
Becket vs Westhampton vs Worcester vs Oakham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Westhampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Westhampton | Worcester | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962Highest |
1,552 |
831Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham 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% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$29k about the U.S. average |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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. |
$1,304±$229 8% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Westhampton 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hampshire · Westhampton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.