Compare towns

Pelham vs Whately vs Hatfield

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%).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasurePelhamWhatelyHatfield
People
Population
1,335Lowest
1,499
3,325Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45±8.4Lowest
13% above MA
49.3±6.7Highest
23% above MA
46.8±5
17% 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
21%±4.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
14%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Pelham and Whately 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%
24.5%±6.3
MA: 17.9%
23.3%±4.6Lowest
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%
47.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hatfield and Whately 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
$116,563±$15kHighest
12% above MA
$89,005±$25kLowest
14% below MA
Whately and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$447,600±$33kHighest
20% below MA
$431,500±$22kLowest
23% below MA
$440,800±$26k
22% below MA
Pelham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,205±$560
32% below MA
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
$1,267±$216Highest
28% below MA
Hatfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,472Highest
25% above MA
$5,027
16% below MA
$4,930Lowest
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.7%±35.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
42.6%±11.8
MA: 51.8%
Pelham and Hatfield 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%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.1%
MA: 62.5%
88.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
21% below MA
23 minHighest
21% below MA
20 minLowest
30% below MA
Work from home
32.8%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±8.5
MA: 18.6%
16%±6.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Pelham 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
School district Pelham Whately Hatfield
High school in town None in town None in town Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — —
6.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.