Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Hardwick vs Groton
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).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Sutton | Hardwick | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,452 |
2,684 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Sutton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Groton 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
| Groton and Sutton 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Quabbin | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.