Compare towns
Whately vs Reading vs Hatfield
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).
Hatfield has the most renters (25.4% rent).
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 | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499 |
699Lowest |
3,325Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest 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% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield 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. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 31% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hatfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
| 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.