Compare towns
Westhampton vs Salem vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering WesthamptonSouthampton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westhampton has the highest household income ($100k).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Salem | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,552Lowest |
44,795Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
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%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westhampton and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Becket 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$7kHighest 4% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,304±$229Lowest 26% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
| Becket and Salem 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampshire · Westhampton | Salem | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hampshire Regional High | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.