Compare towns

Pepperell vs Killingly vs Hatfield vs Hardwick

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).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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.

MeasurePepperellKillinglyHatfieldHardwick
People
Population
1,971Lowest
17,867Highest
3,325
2,684
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±6.3
19% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.8±5Highest
20% above U.S.
45.3±9.8
16% 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%
14%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.6Highest
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%
23.3%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±5
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%
48.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%
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%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4.4Highest
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.
$89,005±$25kHighest
10% above U.S.
$75,000±$22kLowest
7% below 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.
$440,800±$26k
32% above U.S.
$346,700±$67k
4% 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.
$1,267±$216Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,108±$119
22% 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.
$4,930
58% above U.S.
$4,400
41% 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%
42.6%±11.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±13.8Highest
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%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
13.5%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
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 #198 of 282 in MA #163 of 282 in MA
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Hatfield Quabbin
High school in town — Killingly High School Smith Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
6.1Lowest
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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.