What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilmanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Gilmanton	Hardwick
People
Population	4,026Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±4.4Lowest 16% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,088±$9kHighest 45% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,700±$42kHighest 9% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Gilmanton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$421Highest 20% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Gilmanton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,235Highest 100% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick and Gilmanton 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	#25 of 120 in NH	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Gilmanton 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.