Compare towns
Whately vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 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 | Lee | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
5,719Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
| Lee and Otis 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Whately and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Otis 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Whately and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Whately and Otis 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 |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Lee and Otis 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Lee | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| 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.