Compare towns
Gardner 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
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Gardner | Hatfield | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
3,325 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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 | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% 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 | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Hatfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gardner | Hatfield | Whately |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
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.