What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epsom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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	Epsom	Hardwick
People
Population	4,939Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Epsom and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,941±$13kHighest 21% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Epsom and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,212±$437Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Epsom and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,210Highest 99% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epsom and Hardwick 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	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epsom 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	#69 of 120 in NH	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Epsom 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.