Compare towns
Dalton vs Oakham vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Westhampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Dalton | Oakham | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,639 |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
| Dalton and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Westhampton and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.