Compare towns

Westhampton vs Dedham vs Oakham

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).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).

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.

MeasureWesthamptonDedhamOakham
People
Population
1,552Lowest
25,237Highest
1,639
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
49±2.3
23% above MA
Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±4.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±3.1
MA: 19.4%
Dedham and Oakham 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%
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
21.4%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Westhampton and Dedham 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%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
40.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
Dedham 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
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$102,000±$20k
about the MA average
Dedham 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±$24kLowest
26% below MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$420,100±$20k
25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,174±$81Lowest
33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,476
8% above MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$4,103Lowest
32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dedham 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%
5.6%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
29 min
about the MA average
39 minHighest
32% above MA
Work from home
14.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Dedham 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 — #119 of 282 in MA —
School district Hampshire · Westhampton Dedham Quabbin
High school in town Hampshire Regional High Dedham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0Lowest
10.4Highest
—
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.