Compare towns
Pepperell vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,337Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 5% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below 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±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
| 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 120% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.