Compare towns
Whately vs Worcester vs Oakham vs Hatfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Hatfield has the most renters (25.4% rent).
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 | Oakham | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499 |
831Lowest |
1,639 |
3,325Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
46.8±5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Whately and Oakham 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whately and Hatfield 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Hatfield 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 31% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hatfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | — | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.1 |
| 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.