Compare towns
Whately vs Danvers 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
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Danvers | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
28,098Highest |
3,325 |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Hatfield 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% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 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 |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Danvers 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 |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older 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 |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
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.