Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hardwick vs Buckland
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 expensive homes ($457k median).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Buckland has the most homeowners (74.6%).
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 | Hardwick | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
2,684Highest |
2,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-4.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA |
| Buckland and Pepperell 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Buckland and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$82,877±$6kHighest 20% below MA |
| Buckland and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Highest 35% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,111±$213 37% below MA |
| Pepperell and Buckland 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,761 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Buckland 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.