What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

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	Dunbarton	Hardwick
People
Population	3,097Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Dunbarton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,166±$70Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Dunbarton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,233Highest 164% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dunbarton 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	#33 of 120 in NH	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Dunbarton 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.