Compare towns
Pepperell vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
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 | Worcester | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
207,055Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kHighest 26% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.