Compare towns
Pepperell vs Dover vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).
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 | Pepperell | Dover | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
33,364Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Dover and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 120% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.