Compare towns
Hatfield vs Webster vs Whitman 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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Webster | Whitman | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$25k 14% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately and Whitman 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Whitman 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 28% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older 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 |
31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | — |
| 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.