Compare towns
Pepperell vs Middleton 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).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middleton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,816Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 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% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Middleton 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest 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 |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Middleton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 15% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Middleton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.