Compare towns
Whately vs Dover vs Westhampton vs Deerfield
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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | Whately | Dover | Westhampton | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
5,930Highest |
1,552 |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Westhampton 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Dover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,476 8% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Westhampton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hampshire · Westhampton | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Hampshire Regional High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.0 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.