Compare towns
Whately vs Dedham vs Hatfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Dedham | Hatfield | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
25,237Highest |
3,325 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
46.8±5 17% 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Dedham | Hatfield | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
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.