Compare towns
Hatfield vs Orange 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
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Orange | Ware | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% 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 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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+ | 48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Ware 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% 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 |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% 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 |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$977±$125 45% below MA |
| Hatfield and Ware 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 |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.0 |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.