Compare towns
Hatfield vs Pepperell vs Ware
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,971Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.8% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$76,726±$17k 26% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% 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 | $1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 | $4,930 18% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.