Compare towns
Whately vs Reading vs Westhampton 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Reading | Westhampton | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
25,612Highest |
1,552 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Westhampton 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Westhampton 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,476 8% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hatfield and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Reading | Hampshire · Westhampton | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Hampshire Regional High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.0 |
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.