Compare towns
Pepperell vs Lunenburg vs Hardwick
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 renters (50.8% rent).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Lunenburg | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
11,902Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% 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% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Hardwick 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% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest 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% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Lunenburg 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 |
$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Lunenburg 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 |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell 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 |
$6,401 7% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest 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% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lunenburg 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lunenburg | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.