Compare towns
Oakham vs Acton vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Oakham | Acton | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
24,155Highest |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest 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+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,476 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Acton-Boxborough | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
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.