Compare towns
Whately vs Pepperell vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% 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 | Whately | Pepperell | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
11,663Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Pepperell and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Pepperell and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 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 | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whately | North Middlesex | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.