Compare towns
Fall River vs Hatfield vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | Fall River | Hatfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
3,325 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Fall River and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$76,726±$17k 26% below MA |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
| Pepperell and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Hatfield and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Hatfield and Pepperell 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.