Compare towns
Whately vs Athol vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Westhampton has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Whately | Athol | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
12,011Highest |
1,552 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest 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+ | 47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westhampton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
| Whately and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
| Whately and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Westhampton 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Athol-Royalston | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.