Compare towns

Pepperell vs Hadley vs Pepperell

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 kids (20.1% under 18).
Hadley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).

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.

MeasurePepperellHadleyPepperell
People
Population
11,663Highest
5,306
1,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3Lowest
6% above MA
45.8±7.1
15% above MA
46.4±6.3Highest
16% above MA
Pepperell and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±5.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Pepperell and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.2%±4.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.7%±3.8
MA: 17.9%
Hadley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%
MA: 47.3%
61.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
38.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,073±$12kHighest
19% above MA
$119,259±$12k
15% above MA
$76,726±$17kLowest
26% below MA
Pepperell and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$482,100±$14k
14% below MA
$511,000±$43kHighest
9% below MA
$457,300±$40kLowest
19% below MA
Hadley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,295±$238
27% below MA
$1,402±$132Highest
20% below MA
$1,139±$301Lowest
35% below MA
Hadley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,698
12% above MA
$5,271Lowest
12% below MA
$6,871Highest
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.6%±20.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
MA: 10%
6.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
49.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
16% above MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
18.1%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.5%±4.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Hadley 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 #116 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Hadley —
High school in town None in town Hopkins Academy —
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.