Compare towns

Whately vs Barre 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%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Westhampton has the most kids (18% under 18).

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.

MeasureWhatelyBarreWesthampton
People
Population
1,499Lowest
5,572Highest
1,552
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.4%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±6.7Highest
23% above MA
43.8±8.5Lowest
9% above MA
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Westhampton and Whately 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%±5.6Lowest
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%
31.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
Barre and Westhampton 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
$107,727±$13k
4% above MA
$100,000±$7kLowest
4% below MA
Whately and Barre 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
$394,300±$55kLowest
30% 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
$1,030±$713
42% below MA
$1,304±$229Highest
26% below MA
Westhampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,027Lowest
16% below MA
$5,163
14% below MA
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±27.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
Barre 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%
8.2%Highest
MA: 10%
6.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%
MA: 62.5%
75.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1969Lowest
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
21% below MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
20.4%±8.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.2%±4.6Lowest
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 — #134 of 282 in MA —
School district Whately Quabbin Hampshire · Westhampton
High school in town None in town Quabbin Regional High School Hampshire Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
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.