Compare towns

Otis vs Athol vs Westhampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Westhampton has the most expensive homes ($413k median).

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.

MeasureOtisAtholWesthampton
People
Population
1,624
12,011Highest
1,552Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51±3.2Highest
28% above MA
41.3±1.9Lowest
3% above MA
49.3±4.9
23% above MA
Otis and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±4.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
Athol and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.3%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
25.4%±2.8
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+
39.2%
MA: 47.3%
20.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Westhampton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,898±$6kHighest
5% above MA
$69,316±$5kLowest
33% below MA
$100,000±$7k
4% below MA
Otis and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,700±$40k
29% below MA
$268,100±$13kLowest
52% below MA
$413,200±$24kHighest
26% below MA
Westhampton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,318±$924Highest
25% below MA
$1,150±$182Lowest
35% below MA
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
Otis and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,408Lowest
60% below MA
$3,403
43% below MA
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.5%±17.2
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Otis and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
16.3%Highest
MA: 10%
6.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
MA: 62.5%
72.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1953Lowest
11 yrs older than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
15% above MA
27 minLowest
8% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
22.3%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4
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 — #256 of 282 in MA —
School district Farmington River Reg Athol-Royalston Hampshire · Westhampton
High school in town None in town Athol High Hampshire Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Highest
10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.