Compare towns
Pelham vs Maynard vs Whately vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Maynard has the most expensive homes ($527k median).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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 | Pelham | Maynard | Whately | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
10,712Highest |
1,499 |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Maynard and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Pelham | Maynard | Whately | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— | — |
| 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.