Compare towns
Hardwick vs Pepperell vs Townsend vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Hardwick | Pepperell | Townsend | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
1,971Lowest |
9,100 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% 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%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Hardwick 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%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$76,726±$17k 26% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Pepperell and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Townsend and Pepperell 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 |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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 | 11% MA: 10% |
10.9% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Ware 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | North Middlesex | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
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.