Compare towns
Rowley vs Sutton vs Hatfield vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($615k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Whately has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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.
| Measure | Rowley | Sutton | Hatfield | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708 |
9,452Highest |
3,325 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% 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 | 18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Sutton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39kHighest 9% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Rowley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865Highest 15% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sutton | Hatfield | Whately |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.