Compare towns
Whately vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Plainfield | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499 |
616Lowest |
3,325Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
50±2.4 25% above MA |
| Plainfield and Williamsburg 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% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Williamsburg 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Plainfield 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 12% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Whately and Williamsburg 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
| 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 45% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Plainfield 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$5,761Highest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs 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 |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Plainfield 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 | — | Hatfield | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
— |
| 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.