Compare towns
Hatfield vs Dalton vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Hatfield | Dalton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
6,256Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% 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 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest 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+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest 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+ | 48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% 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 | $440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% 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 | $1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% 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 | $4,930 18% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 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 | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
23 minHighest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Central Berkshire | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.