Compare towns
Pepperell vs Walpole 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 people working from home (13.5%).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Hardwick has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Walpole | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
3,690Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Walpole 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. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.