Compare towns
Deerfield vs Ware vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Deerfield | Ware | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
10,048Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Deerfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Whately and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Deerfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Ware | Whately |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.