What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wales has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

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	Wales
People
Population	1,499Lowest	1,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA	42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA
	Whately and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wales and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9%	19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Whately and Wales 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 MA: 47.3%	22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wales and Whately 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 12% above MA	$89,006±$6kLowest 14% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA	$1,104±$242Highest 37% below MA
	Wales and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,027Highest 16% below MA	$4,534Lowest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%	58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wales and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	5.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%	13.6%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Whately and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Whately	Wales
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.