Compare towns
Whately vs Needham vs Hatfield vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
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 | Needham | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,325 |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Williamsburg 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Needham | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.