What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Hardwick has the most affordable 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	Hampton Falls	Hardwick
People
Population	2,328Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Hampton Falls and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton Falls and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Hampton Falls 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	86.3%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	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±4.8Highest 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	Hampton Falls 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.