Compare towns
Whately vs Middlesex vs Otis vs Deerfield
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).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 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 | Middlesex | Otis | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
1,943 |
1,624 |
5,158Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Whately 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% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Middlesex 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. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14kLowest 31% 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±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
| Whately and Deerfield 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. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Deerfield 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. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Otis 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 | — | — | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Farmington River Reg | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.