Compare towns
Wendell vs Douglas vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 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.
| Measure | Wendell | Douglas | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850Lowest |
9,207Highest |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Douglas and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Douglas and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Douglas | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.