Compare towns
Wendell vs Petersham vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Westhampton has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Wendell | Petersham | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850Lowest |
1,185 |
1,552Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
| Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westhampton and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
| Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
| Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Petersham | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.