Compare towns
Westhampton vs Berlin vs Oakham vs Becket
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Westhampton | Berlin | Oakham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,552Lowest |
3,378Highest |
1,639 |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Becket 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% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Berlin and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Berlin and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,476 8% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 17% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Hampshire · Westhampton | Berlin-Boylston | Quabbin | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.