Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ware 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 renters (50.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
10,048Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.