Compare towns

Westhampton vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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.

MeasureWesthamptonPlainfieldBecket
People
Population
1,552
616Lowest
1,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
-2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±4.9Lowest
23% above MA
50.6±9.5Highest
27% above MA
49.6±4.7
24% above MA
Plainfield and Becket 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%
19%±9.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Plainfield and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.4%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
29.5%±7.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.3%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Plainfield and Westhampton 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%
52.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
45.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Plainfield 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
$63,500±$14kLowest
39% 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
$309,000±$47kLowest
45% 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
$1,292±$558Lowest
27% 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
$4,458
26% below MA
$3,047Lowest
49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
40%±100
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Becket and Plainfield 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%
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
12.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98%
MA: 62.5%
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
5 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
38 minHighest
30% above MA
36 min
23% above MA
Work from home
14.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.3%±4.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Plainfield and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Hampshire · Westhampton — Central Berkshire
High school in town Hampshire Regional High — 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.