Compare towns
Hardwick vs Pepperell vs Raynham
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).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | Pepperell | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,971Lowest |
15,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% 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% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Raynham 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%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Raynham 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% |
38.8% MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest 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 | $75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$76,726±$17k 26% below MA |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Raynham 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 |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
10.9% MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Raynham 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 | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school 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.