Compare towns
Pepperell vs Webster vs Thompson 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 expensive homes ($457k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Webster | Thompson | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,337 |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3 19% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Thompson 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Thompson 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Webster | Thompson School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Bartlett High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.