What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Hardwick
People
Population	2,135Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,514±$27kHighest 10% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,211±$190Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,962Highest 91% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Andover 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	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover School District	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.