Compare towns
Pepperell vs Upton vs Hardwick vs Hatfield
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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Upton | Hardwick | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
8,189Highest |
2,684 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hardwick 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
| Hatfield and Pepperell 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 6.1Lowest |
| 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.