Compare towns
Pepperell vs Upton vs Windsor Locks vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Windsor Locks | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
8,189 |
12,579Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks 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 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 120% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.