Compare towns
Pepperell vs Killingly vs Hardwick vs North Brookfield
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).
North Brookfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1953).
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 | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
17,867Highest |
2,684 |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 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%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% 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% |
4.5%±2.3 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±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Killingly and North Brookfield 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. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Hardwick 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. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3% 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. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield 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 | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 5.5Lowest |
| 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.