Compare towns
Whately vs Wales vs Otis
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).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
1,929Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis 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% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest 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%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Otis 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wales and Otis 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 |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Whately and Otis 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 |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Whately and Otis 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 |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Wales 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 |
$4,534 24% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Wales 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% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Whately | Wales | Farmington River Reg |
| 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 |
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.