Compare towns
Westhampton vs Dover vs Whately 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Dover | Whately | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,552 |
5,930Highest |
1,499Lowest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
49.3±6.7 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$7k 4% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Whately 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Hampshire · Westhampton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Whately | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hampshire Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.