Compare towns
Whately vs Reading vs Sunderland
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).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499 |
699Lowest |
3,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
35.1±1.9Lowest 10% below 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% |
9%±3.3Lowest 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% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
62.8%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% |
25.5%±9.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$68,083±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Whately and Reading 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. |
$458,100±$52kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Sunderland 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. |
$1,672±$151Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,611 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sunderland and Reading 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% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
42%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #220 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sunderland |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.