The Town FilesWestfield, Massachusetts
City in Hampden County · population 40,834 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $325,100
- Household income
- $87,753
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 39.9
Westfield is a city of 40,834 people in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $325,100, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks easier by car than 82% of Massachusetts towns, more of a college town than 79% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 78% of Massachusetts towns.
How Westfield ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Westfield is worth $325,100, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $87,753, which is more affordable than 84% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,117 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Westfield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $325,100 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,117 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $87,753 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Westfield
| People | Westfield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.2% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Westfield
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westfield since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on October 3, 1979 about 6.8 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 701 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 2, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampden County since 1996
Hampden County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampden County
Hampden County had 202,129 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,834 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Westfield itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Westfield
11 public schools with 4,746 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield High | 9-12 | 1,006 | 12.3 |
| Westfield Middle School | 7-8 | 706 | 12.8 |
| Westfield Intermediate School | 5-6 | 684 | 10.9 |
| Westfield Technical Academy | 9-12 | 548 | 9.0 |
| Highland | PK-4 | 347 | 12.4 |
| Munger Hill | PK-4 | 328 | 10.9 |
| Paper Mill | K-4 | 316 | 11.3 |
| Southampton Road | PK-4 | 305 | 14.5 |
| Abner Gibbs | K-4 | 185 | 11.6 |
| Franklin Ave | K-4 | 174 | 11.6 |
| Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 147 | 18.4 |
Towns near Westfield
- West Springfield Town, MA5.5 mi · 28,835 people · home $321,500
- Southwick, MA6.1 mi · 9,232 people · home $397,500
- Southampton, MA6.1 mi · 6,224 people · home $452,300
- Agawam Town, MA7.4 mi · 28,692 people · home $311,600
- Holyoke, MA7.7 mi · 38,238 people · home $274,100
- Chicopee, MA9.9 mi · 55,560 people · home $274,500
- Suffield, CT10.4 mi · 15,752 people · home $407,500
- Springfield, MA11.2 mi · 155,929 people · home $245,000
Westfield questions
Is Westfield, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Westfield scores better for retirees than 16% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 14%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Westfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Westfield is valued at $325,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,753, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,117 a month.
What is the weather like in Westfield?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 54.2 inches of snow.
Does Westfield get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on October 3, 1979. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)