What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Whately	Sunderland
People
Population	1,499Lowest	3,641Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA	35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Whately and Sunderland 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%	62.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA	$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$458,100±$52kHighest 19% below MA
	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 45% below MA	$1,672±$151Highest 5% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,027Lowest 16% below MA	$5,611Highest 6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	14.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	42%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 21% below MA	17 minLowest 41% below MA
Work from home	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%	16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Whately and Sunderland 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	Sunderland
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.