Compare towns
Hatfield vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Sutton | Ware | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
9,452 |
10,048Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Sutton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Hatfield and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Whately 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Sutton | Ware | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Sutton High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.