Compare towns

Whately vs Erving vs Hatfield

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%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 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.

MeasureWhatelyErvingHatfield
People
Population
1,499Lowest
1,703
3,325Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±6.7Highest
23% above MA
43.3±2.4Lowest
8% above MA
46.8±5
17% above MA
Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.3%±3.2
MA: 19.4%
14%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Whately and Erving 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%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.3%±4.6
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%
MA: 47.3%
24.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hatfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,563±$15kHighest
12% above MA
$77,656±$9kLowest
25% below MA
$89,005±$25k
14% below MA
Whately and Hatfield 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
$271,800±$20kLowest
52% below MA
$440,800±$26kHighest
22% below MA
Hatfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
$1,163±$213
34% below MA
$1,267±$216Highest
28% below MA
Hatfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,027Highest
16% below MA
$1,870Lowest
69% below MA
$4,930
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.5%±23Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.6%±11.8
MA: 51.8%
Erving 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%
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
81.5%
MA: 62.5%
74.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
21% below MA
28 minHighest
4% below MA
20 minLowest
30% below MA
Work from home
20.4%±8.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
3.6%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16%±6.3
MA: 18.6%
Whately and Hatfield 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 Erving Hatfield
High school in town None in town None in town Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — —
6.1
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.