Compare towns
Pepperell vs Fall River vs Hardwick vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Fall River | Hardwick | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
94,082Highest |
2,684 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% 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 | 15.7%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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±$17k 26% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$89,005±$25kHighest 14% 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 | $457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% 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 | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
| Hatfield and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Highest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Quabbin | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | B M C Durfee High | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.