Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ware 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 expensive homes ($457k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Ware | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
10,048Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kHighest 26% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Pepperell and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301Highest 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Pepperell and Hardwick 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.