What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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	Wales	Whately
People
Population	1,929Highest	1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA	49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA
	Whately and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wales and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Whately and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wales and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,006±$6kLowest 14% below MA	$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA	$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$242Highest 37% below MA	$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA
	Wales and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,534Lowest 24% below MA	$5,027Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8%	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wales and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest MA: 10%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	13.6%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Whately and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Wales	Whately
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.