Compare towns
Oakham vs Rowley vs Westhampton vs Otis
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 youngest population (median age 49).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Westhampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Rowley | Westhampton | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
6,251Highest |
1,552Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Oakham 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Rowley and Otis 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 |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Rowley and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,476 8% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Triton | Hampshire · Westhampton | Farmington River Reg |
| 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.