Compare towns
Whately vs Boylston vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($397k 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.
| Measure | Whately | Boylston | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
4,948Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
48.2±2.3Lowest 21% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Boylston and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Boylston and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$108,898±$6kLowest 5% above MA |
| Boylston and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Boylston and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Otis 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 | — | #72 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Berlin-Boylston | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.