Compare towns
Oakham vs Benson vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Oakham | Benson | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Highest |
784Lowest |
1,552 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
| Benson and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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 26% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
| 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
| 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% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Quabbin | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.