Compare towns
Hatfield vs Exeter vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Exeter | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
16,151Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whately and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Whately and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$431,500±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.