What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dublin has the most people working from home (22%).

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).

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	Dublin	Hardwick
People
Population	1,688Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Dublin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dublin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dublin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Dublin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,500±$72kHighest 29% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Dublin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$165Highest 6% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Dublin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,165Highest 162% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968 12 yrs older than U.S.	1968 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dublin 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	Contoocook Valley 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.