Compare towns
Pepperell vs Springfield 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 people working from home (13.5%).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
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 | Springfield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
154,749Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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±$17kHighest 26% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Pepperell and Hardwick 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Springfield 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Hardwick 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.