Compare towns
Westhampton vs Middlesex vs Oakham vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westhampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Middlesex | Oakham | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,552Lowest |
1,943 |
1,639 |
1,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,304±$229 8% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,476 108% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hampshire · Westhampton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.