Compare towns
Bernardston vs Hardwick vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Bernardston | Hardwick | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
2,684 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553 27% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA |
| Pepperell and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516 25% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Bernardston 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.