Compare towns
Westhampton vs Danvers 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
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Danvers | Oakham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,552Lowest |
28,098Highest |
1,639 |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
49±2.3 23% 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% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest 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%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Danvers 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% |
48.4%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%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Danvers 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 |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Danvers 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 |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Danvers 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 |
$6,654Highest 11% 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% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Westhampton 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Hampshire · Westhampton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Quabbin | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hampshire Regional High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.