Westfield, MA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Westfield

Westfield Public Schools serves a community in Hampden County that balances small-city roots with suburban growth. The district itself is substantial, with an enrollment that spreads across elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school levels, including a technical academy and a virtual school option. The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Hispanic population and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Free or reduced-price lunch data was not reported, so the economic composition is harder to gauge from this source alone.

On state testing for grades three through eight, proficiency rates in math and English language arts sit close to each other, with roughly a third of students scoring at the proficient or above level. Science and social studies results are slightly higher. Compared across Hampden County’s districts, overall proficiency is above the midpoint, meaning the district performs better than many of its neighbors, though still with room for improvement. A parent looking at raw numbers would see that a majority of students are not yet reaching proficiency, and that is a central fact to weigh.

Chronic absenteeism, however, is a soft spot. The rate is higher than the median among the county’s districts, affecting about a quarter of the student body. This is a metric that families may want to explore further with the school, particularly for younger grade levels. Per-pupil current spending falls in the lower range of the county, which could influence class sizes and program depth. Graduation rate data was not available, so that piece of the picture is missing.

The district has recently undergone a significant facility change. A new elementary school, Westfield River Elementary, opened in early 2025, consolidating and replacing two older buildings. Voters approved a debt exclusion to fund the city’s share of the project, which means property taxes will be higher for the life of the bonds. This is a concrete, ongoing cost for residents, balanced by a modern school that serves grades PK through five. The district’s operating budget for the current fiscal year increased as well, with the majority of local funding coming from property taxes.

The housing market in Westfield shows typical prices below the state median but slightly above the national median, with home values having risen modestly over the past year. Rents are also up. The market is competitive, with limited inventory. For a family moving in, the cost of housing combined with the tax increase from the school project is a practical consideration.

Overall, Westfield Public Schools offers a district that performs above the middle of its county academically, though many students still need additional support to reach proficiency. The chronic absenteeism and relatively lower spending per pupil are areas that deserve a closer look. The recent investment in an elementary campus signals a commitment to modern facilities, but it comes with a tax impact. This district fits a family that wants a solid, mid-range academic setting in a community with urban amenities and suburban scale, and who is prepared to engage with the district on attendance and resource questions.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,808

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 20%

Black 2%

White 71%

Asian 3%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

16%

50%

Gr 4

23%

45%

Gr 5

23%

52%

Gr 6

23%

48%

Gr 7

16%

38%

Gr 8

29%

58%

Gr 38

22%

49%

Math

Gr 3

24%

50%

Gr 4

24%

53%

Gr 5

18%

43%

Gr 6

27%

54%

Gr 7

12%

38%

Gr 8

23%

54%

Gr 38

21%

49%

Science

Gr 5

26%

62%

Gr 8

21%

44%

Gr 38

24%

53%

Social studies

Gr 8

25%

60%

Schools in this District

12 schools are officially reported under this district.

Westfield Middle School

Westfield Technical Academy

Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center

Munger Hill

Paper Mill

Westfield Intermediate School

Westfield Virtual School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

34%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

35%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

38%

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

42%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$383,803

Year-over-year change+3.5%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$384K to $411K

vs. state typical0.58x

vs. national typical1.04x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
01085	Westfield	$384K	+3.5%	99.9%
01077	Southwick	$411K	+3.3%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,939/mo

Year-over-year change+6.7%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
01085	Westfield	$1,939	+6.7%	99.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,937/mo

Home price / national median income4.6x

Annual rent / national median income27.8%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$2/mo

Market Activity: Hampden County

Median listing price$375,000

Median listing price YoY+5.7%

Median price per sq ft$245

Median price per sq ft YoY+4.7%

Median days on market22.8 days

Median days on market YoY-1.1%

Active listings427

Active listings YoY+12.4%

New listings404

Pending listings591

Pending listings YoY+384.4%

Hotness: median listing price$365,000

Hotness: median listing price YoY+5.8%

Supply score99.1

Supply score YoY+1.1%

Demand score99.1

Demand score YoY+0.3%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$661,755 (+1.5% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.