Compare towns
Hatfield vs Pepperell vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,971Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.4±6.3Lowest 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 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 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 14% below MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,871 15% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Hatfield 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.