What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hardwick	Lancaster
People
Population	2,684Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±9.8Lowest 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	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest 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	$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 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	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Lowest 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

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.