Compare towns
Whately vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Reading | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499 |
699Lowest |
5,158Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Lowest 27% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
| Whately and Deerfield 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Deerfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school 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 |
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.