Compare towns
Oakham vs Ashfield vs Westhampton vs Whately
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Ashfield | Westhampton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,893Highest |
1,552 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 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 | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% 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 | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Quabbin | Mohawk Trail | Hampshire · Westhampton | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | 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 |
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.