Compare towns
Whately vs Chilmark vs Hatfield vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamsburg has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
1,578 |
3,325Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
50±2.4 25% above MA |
| Chilmark and Williamsburg 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% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg and Chilmark 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Chilmark and Williamsburg 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,761Highest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Chilmark 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 | — | — | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Up-Island Regional | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
— |
| 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.