Compare towns
Pepperell vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Exeter | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above 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% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hatfield 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Exeter 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 120% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pepperell 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.