Compare towns
Oakham vs Ayer 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 highest household income ($102k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Ayer | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
3,098Highest |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% 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% |
20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer 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% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$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 | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton and Ayer 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 |
$4,911 18% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer 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% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Westhampton 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.