Compare towns
Westhampton vs Athol vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering WesthamptonSouthampton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westhampton has the highest household income ($100k).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Westhampton | Athol | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,552Lowest |
12,011Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
| Becket and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest 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 | $100,000±$7kHighest 4% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
| Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
| Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Westhampton and Becket 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 | Hampshire · Westhampton | Athol-Royalston | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hampshire Regional High | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.