Compare towns

Westhampton vs Danvers vs Oakham vs Whately

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 most affordable homes ($413k median).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

MeasureWesthamptonDanversOakhamWhately
People
Population
1,552
28,098Highest
1,639
1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
45.3±3Lowest
13% above MA
49±2.3
23% above MA
49.3±6.7Highest
23% above MA
Kids under 18
18%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±3.8Lowest
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%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.5%±6.3
MA: 17.9%
Westhampton and Whately 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%
47.6%
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%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
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±$7kLowest
4% below MA
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$102,000±$20k
about the MA average
$116,563±$15k
12% above MA
Danvers and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$413,200±$24kLowest
26% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$420,100±$20k
25% below MA
$431,500±$22k
23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,174±$81
33% below MA
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,476
8% above MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$4,103Lowest
32% below MA
$5,027
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±69.1
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Danvers and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.5%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
88.2%
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
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
28 min
about the MA average
39 minHighest
32% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
14.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±8.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Whately and Danvers 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 Whately
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.