Compare towns
Oakham vs Sharon vs Westhampton vs Whately
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 most homeowners (91.6%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Westhampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Sharon | Westhampton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Highest |
1,577 |
1,552 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton and Sharon 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,304±$229 8% below U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sharon 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% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Quabbin | Sharon School District | 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 |
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.