Compare towns
Hatfield vs Pepperell vs Webster
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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,971Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Hatfield 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% 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±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Hatfield and Webster 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Webster |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.