Compare towns
Fall River 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
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Fall River | Hardwick | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
2,684 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
| Pepperell and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$76,726±$17kHighest 26% below MA |
| Pepperell and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Highest 34% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
| Fall River and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 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 | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
10.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Hardwick 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.