What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Westhampton has the most people working from home (14.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Westhampton
People
Population	9,100Highest	1,552Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA
	Townsend and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA
	Townsend and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,304±$229Lowest 26% below MA
	Townsend and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Lowest about the MA average	$6,476Highest 8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%	33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	6.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Westhampton and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	—
School district	North Middlesex	Hampshire · Westhampton
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Hampshire Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.