Compare towns
Oakham vs Strafford 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 youngest population (median age 49).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Strafford | Westhampton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,552 |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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 26% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Whately and Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$413,200±$24kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Whately and Strafford 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. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,476 108% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2% 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% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Quabbin | Strafford 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.