Compare towns
Whately vs Windham vs Worcester vs New Braintree
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 the highest household income ($117k).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
New Braintree has the most kids (20% 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.
| Measure | Whately | Windham | Worcester | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
973 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.8±4.6 23% above U.S. |
| Whately and New Braintree 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Braintree and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Braintree 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and New Braintree 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 44% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$99,500±$8k 23% above U.S. |
| Whately and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$408,800±$27k 23% above U.S. |
| Whately and New Braintree 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. |
— | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,484±$316Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 61% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,508 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Braintree and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Whately | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin |
| 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 | 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.