Compare towns
Hatfield vs Pepperell vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Hatfield | Pepperell | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,971Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
$1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,871 120% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.