Compare towns
Whately vs Maynard vs Oakham 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%).
Maynard has the most expensive homes ($527k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Whately | Maynard | Oakham | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
10,712Highest |
1,639 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Whately and Oakham 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Maynard 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Oakham 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Maynard 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Maynard | Quabbin | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
— | 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.