Compare towns
Westhampton vs Needham 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
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Needham | Whately | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,552 |
32,459Highest |
1,499Lowest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,107±$1k 20% above MA |
| Needham 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% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr 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 |
28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Hampshire · Westhampton | Needham | Whately | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hampshire Regional High | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.