Compare towns
Pepperell vs Fall River vs Hardwick vs Pepperell
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Pepperell | Fall River | Hardwick | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
94,082Highest |
2,684 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% 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 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 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+ | 18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 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+ | 38.8% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 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 | $76,726±$17k 26% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA |
| Pepperell and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
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 | 10.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | B M C Durfee High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.