What stands out worked out from the figures below

Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

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	Effingham	Hardwick
People
Population	1,912Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Effingham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,607±$14kHighest 5% below U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Effingham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S.	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%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	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Effingham 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	Governor Wentworth Regional 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.