Compare towns
Hardwick vs North Brookfield vs Pepperell
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 kids (20.5% under 18).
North Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | North Brookfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
4,760Highest |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
45.2±9.4Lowest 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 | 20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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 |
$79,285±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$76,726±$17k 26% below MA |
| North Brookfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,139±$301Highest 35% below MA |
| Pepperell and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest 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 | 11% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
10.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Brookfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Brookfield High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 5.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.