What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).

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	Barnstead	Hardwick
People
Population	4,994Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9% U.S.: 35.7%	30.9% U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 92% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barnstead 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	#111 of 120 in NH	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Barnstead 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.