Compare towns

Westhampton vs Hardwick 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 highest household income ($100k).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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.

MeasureWesthamptonHardwickBecket
People
Population
1,552Lowest
2,684Highest
1,962
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±4.9
23% above MA
45.3±9.8Lowest
13% 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%
20.5%±5.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hardwick 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%
22.7%±5
MA: 17.9%
21.3%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Westhampton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
45.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±4.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hardwick 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±$7kHighest
4% below MA
$75,000±$22kLowest
28% below MA
$80,417±$29k
23% below MA
Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$413,200±$24kHighest
26% below MA
$346,700±$67kLowest
38% below MA
$361,000±$82k
36% below MA
Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
$1,108±$119Lowest
37% below MA
$2,107±$1kHighest
20% above MA
Becket and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
$4,400
27% below MA
$3,047Lowest
49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59%±13.8
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Becket and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
11%
MA: 10%
12.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
7% above MA
36 minHighest
23% above MA
Work from home
14.1%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
13.3%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
Westhampton and Becket 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 — #163 of 282 in MA —
School district Hampshire · Westhampton Quabbin Central Berkshire
High school in town Hampshire Regional High 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

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.