Compare towns
Whately vs Worcester vs Hatfield 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 the highest household income ($117k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Worcester | Hatfield | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
207,055Highest |
3,325 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
46.8±5 17% 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Hatfield 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Worcester and Otis 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Hatfield | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.