What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hardwick	Pepperell
People
Population	2,684Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	Hardwick 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%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick and Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hardwick and Pepperell 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%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Lowest 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	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA	$1,295±$238Highest 27% 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	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#163 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.