Compare towns
Whately vs Wales vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
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 | Wales | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
1,929 |
5,158Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Deerfield 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Wales 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 |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| 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 23% below MA |
$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| 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 45% below MA |
$1,104±$242 37% below MA |
$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA |
| Deerfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$4,534Lowest 24% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Deerfield 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 | Wales | 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 |
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.