Compare towns

Westhampton vs Swampscott vs Oakham

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).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).

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.

MeasureWesthamptonSwampscottOakham
People
Population
1,552Lowest
15,277Highest
1,639
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
44.5±3.5Lowest
11% above MA
49±2.3
23% above MA
Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±4.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±3.1
MA: 19.4%
Swampscott 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
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.4%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
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%
MA: 47.3%
62.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
40.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
Swampscott 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±$7kLowest
4% below MA
$134,386±$23kHighest
29% above MA
$102,000±$20k
about the MA average
Swampscott 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±$24kLowest
26% below MA
$771,100±$41kHighest
37% above MA
$420,100±$20k
25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
$1,174±$81Lowest
33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,476
8% above MA
$7,936Highest
32% above MA
$4,103Lowest
32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Swampscott and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.5%
MA: 10%
7.1%Highest
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%
MA: 62.5%
75.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
34 min
18% above MA
39 minHighest
32% above MA
Work from home
14.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
27.2%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #76 of 282 in MA —
School district Hampshire · Westhampton Swampscott Quabbin
High school in town Hampshire Regional High Swampscott High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0Lowest
11.7Highest
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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.