Compare towns
Whately vs Lee vs Sunderland
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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
5,719Highest |
3,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
| Lee and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whately and Lee 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$458,100±$52kHighest 19% below MA |
| Sunderland 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 |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,672±$151Highest 5% below MA |
| Sunderland and Lee 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,611Highest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sunderland and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 21% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
17 minLowest 41% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Sunderland 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 | #220 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Lee | Sunderland |
| 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 | 20 photos → | 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.