Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hatfield vs Shelburne
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 renters (50.8% rent).
Hatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Hatfield | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971 |
3,325Highest |
1,567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Lowest 16% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
| Shelburne and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
51.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Pepperell 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 26% below MA |
$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$83,000±$4k 20% below MA |
| Hatfield and Shelburne 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 |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$405,400±$32kLowest 28% 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 |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,080±$105Lowest 39% 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 | $6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,595Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shelburne 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hatfield | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1 |
— |
| 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.