The Town FilesWales, Massachusetts
Town in Hampden County · population 1,832 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,200
- Household income
- $89,006
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 42.3
Wales is a town of 1,832 people in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $296,200, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks easier by car than 89% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 84% of Massachusetts towns, quieter than 83% of Massachusetts towns.
How Wales ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wales is worth $296,200, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $89,006, which is more affordable than 94% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,104 a month. 89.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wales | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,200 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,104 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $89,006 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 89.4% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.0% | — |
Who lives in Wales
| People | Wales | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 34.6 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Wales
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wales since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2011 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 200 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampden County since 1996
Hampden County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampden County
Hampden County had 202,129 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,834 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Wales itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Wales
1 public school with 93 students, about 9.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales Elementary | PK-6 | 93 | 9.3 |
Towns near Wales
- Holland, MA3.0 mi · 2,603 people · home $333,600
- Monson Center, MA4.0 mi · 1,952 people · home $289,200
- Holland, MA4.2 mi · 1,551 people · home $325,200
- Brimfield, MA4.9 mi · 3,694 people · home $389,100
- Monson, MA5.0 mi · 8,150 people · home $348,400
- Union, CT5.6 mi · 785 people · home $330,400
- Stafford, CT6.5 mi · 11,472 people · home $263,800
- Stafford Springs, CT7.4 mi · 4,780 people · home $230,300
Wales questions
Is Wales, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wales scores better for retirees than 31% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 83%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Wales?
The median owner-occupied home in Wales is valued at $296,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,006, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,104 a month.
What is the weather like in Wales?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 63.5 inches of snow.
Does Wales get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wales since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2011. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)