Compare towns
Pepperell vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Newfields | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
2,023 |
2,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Hardwick 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Newfields School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.