Compare towns
Groton vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Groton | Hardwick | Ware | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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 | $192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Groton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Quabbin | Ware | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.