Compare towns

Pelham 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%).
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.

MeasurePelhamWhatelyWilliamsburg
People
Population
1,335Lowest
1,499
2,694Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45±8.4Lowest
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%
16.4%±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%
24.5%±6.3
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±3.5Lowest
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%
60.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Williamsburg 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
$104,792±$21kLowest
about the MA average
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±$22k
23% below MA
$403,100±$37kLowest
28% below MA
Pelham and Whately 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
$1,420±$228Highest
19% below MA
Williamsburg 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
$5,027Lowest
16% below MA
$5,761
4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.7%±35.2
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61%±28Highest
MA: 51.8%
Williamsburg and Pelham 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%
MA: 10%
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.1%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
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
21% below MA
23 min
21% below MA
25 minHighest
13% below MA
Work from home
32.8%±7.4Highest
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
School district Pelham Whately Williamsburg
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.