What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	Westhampton	Barre
People
Population	1,552Lowest	5,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA
	Westhampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westhampton and Barre 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%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westhampton and Barre 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%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
	Barre and Westhampton 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	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
	Westhampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Westhampton and Barre 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	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Barre and Westhampton 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%	8.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Westhampton and Barre 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	—	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampshire · Westhampton	Quabbin
High school in town	Hampshire Regional High	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	12.9Highest
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.