Compare towns
Whately vs Northampton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Northampton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
30,962Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Whately and Oakham 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 |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Whately and Northampton 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 |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Whately 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 | — | #159 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Northampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.