Compare towns

Westhampton vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.

MeasureWesthamptonLancasterWhately
People
Population
1,552
8,606Highest
1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.8%
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
43.1±4.9Lowest
8% above MA
49.3±6.7Highest
23% above MA
Kids under 18
18%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Lancaster 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%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
50.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
47.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Westhampton and Lancaster 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
$134,833±$27kHighest
30% above MA
$116,563±$15k
12% above MA
Lancaster 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
$519,100±$60kHighest
8% below MA
$431,500±$22k
23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
$2,338±$539Highest
33% above MA
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,476
8% above MA
$7,235Highest
21% above MA
$5,027Lowest
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Lancaster 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%
1.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
85.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
5 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
32 minHighest
9% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
14.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±8.5
MA: 18.6%
Lancaster 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 — #145 of 282 in MA —
School district Hampshire · Westhampton Nashoba Whately
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.