Compare towns
Pepperell vs Shelburne 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).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).
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.
| Measure | Pepperell | Shelburne | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971 |
1,567Lowest |
2,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
57±7.3Highest 43% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
| Shelburne 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 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$83,000±$4kHighest 20% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Shelburne 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 |
$405,400±$32k 28% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Pepperell and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Highest 35% below MA |
$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Pepperell and Hardwick 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 |
$4,595 23% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1Lowest 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% |
10.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
67.8% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.