Compare towns
Pepperell vs Killingly vs Hardwick vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Killingly | Hardwick | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
17,867Highest |
2,684 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Killingly 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 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Hatfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hatfield 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.