Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Hatfield 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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sutton | Hatfield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,452Highest |
3,325 |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Hardwick 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Hatfield 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±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Hatfield and Sutton 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Hatfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.