Compare towns
Halifax 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
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% 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 | Halifax | Hatfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
3,325 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
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 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Halifax and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
| Halifax and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Halifax and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hatfield and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.