Compare towns
Hatfield vs Windsor Locks vs Whately vs Boylston
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Boylston has the most expensive homes ($579k 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 | Windsor Locks | Whately | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
12,579Highest |
1,499Lowest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Whately and Boylston 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 10% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$116,563±$15k 44% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston 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 32% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Boylston 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boylston 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | — | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Windsor Locks School District | Whately | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
8.9 |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.