Compare towns
Guildhall vs Hardwick vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.
| Measure | Guildhall | Hardwick | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 371Lowest |
2,684 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Quabbin | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.