Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hatfield vs Pepperell vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Hardwick | Hatfield | Pepperell | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
3,325 |
1,971Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
38.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$76,726±$17k 26% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Hatfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 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 | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Hatfield | — | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | — | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.