Compare towns
Dalton vs Hatfield vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Dalton | Hatfield | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
3,325 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Dalton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Hatfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$977±$125 45% below MA |
| Hatfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hatfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
23 minHighest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Hatfield 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hatfield | Whately |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.