Compare towns
Reading vs Reading vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westhampton has the most affordable 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.
| Measure | Reading | Reading | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
| Westhampton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westhampton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,304±$229Lowest 26% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,476Lowest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westhampton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Reading | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
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.