Compare towns
Whately vs Chilmark vs Westhampton vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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.
| Measure | Whately | Chilmark | Westhampton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
1,578 |
1,552 |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
| Chilmark and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham 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±$15k 12% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Chilmark and Westhampton 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 |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Westhampton and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Whately | Up-Island Regional | Hampshire · Westhampton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.