Compare towns
Montgomery vs Ira vs Westfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the highest household income ($123k).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Westfield has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Montgomery | Ira | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 796 |
381Lowest |
40,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ira and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,000±$19kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$87,753±$6k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,500±$29kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$325,100±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,117±$60Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,283 37% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,746Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery and Westfield 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 | — | — | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Westfield |
| High school in town | — | — | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.