Compare towns
Oakham vs Hanson vs Westhampton vs Barre
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%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Westhampton has the most people working from home (14.1%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% 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 | Oakham | Hanson | Westhampton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
10,660Highest |
1,552Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Hanson and Westhampton 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Westhampton and Barre 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Whitman-Hanson | Hampshire · Westhampton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Hampshire Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
10.0Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.