What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).

Hardwick has the most expensive 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	Halifax	Hardwick
People
Population	847Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S.	$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Highest 60% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968 12 yrs older than U.S.	1968 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Halifax 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.