Compare towns
Westhampton vs Reading vs Otis 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
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 | Reading | Otis | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,552Lowest |
25,612Highest |
1,624 |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
49.6±4.7 24% above MA |
| Otis 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Westhampton and Becket 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,304±$229Lowest 26% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$3,047 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older 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 |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Otis 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Hampshire · Westhampton | Reading | Farmington River Reg | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hampshire Regional High | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.