What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hinsdale	Wales
People
Population	1,859Lowest	1,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-0.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±10.1Highest 9% above MA	42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA
	Hinsdale and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wales and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%	19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hinsdale and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hinsdale and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,845±$17kLowest 25% below MA	$89,006±$6kHighest 14% below MA
	Wales and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,600±$35kLowest 52% below MA	$296,200±$26kHighest 47% below MA
	Wales and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$118Highest 37% below MA	$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA
	Hinsdale and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,065Lowest 49% below MA	$4,534Highest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±24.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wales and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%	5.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 20% below MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	7.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wales and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Central Berkshire	Wales
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.