Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ripton vs Whately vs Buckland
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Buckland has the most affordable homes ($321k median).
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 | Ripton | Whately | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Highest |
508Lowest |
1,499 |
2,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
49.5±5.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Buckland and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Buckland 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Buckland 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$82,877±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Whately and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$321,400±$25kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
— | $977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,111±$213 21% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,027Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,761Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Buckland and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately and Ripton 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Whately | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | None in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | — | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.