Compare towns
Whately vs Middlesex vs Hatfield vs Conway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hatfield has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Middlesex | Hatfield | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
1,943 |
3,325Highest |
1,755 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
55.6±3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Conway 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Hatfield 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 44% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$97,250±$11k 20% above U.S. |
| Whately and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$395,900±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| 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 31% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,800±$990Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Conway and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 61% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,797 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.9%±33.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hatfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hatfield | Conway |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.