What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).

Hardwick has the oldest 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.

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

Measure	Ashford	Hardwick
People
Population	4,226Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-10.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Ashford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,982Highest 124% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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	19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#90 of 149 in CT	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashford 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.