Compare towns
Pepperell vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Northbridge | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
16,458Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% 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%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Northbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Pepperell and Northbridge 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 |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Northbridge 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 |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northbridge | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.