Compare towns
Pepperell vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Webster | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
2,227 |
3,325Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Webster 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% |
30.7%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% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Webster and Hatfield 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. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Webster 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% 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. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | — | Merrimack Valley School District | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.