What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

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	Canaan	Hardwick
People
Population	3,811Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Canaan and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Canaan and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S.	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Canaan and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 92% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canaan and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canaan 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	#83 of 120 in NH	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Quabbin
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
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.