What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most people working from home (8.7%).

Montville has the highest household income ($96k).

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	Montville
People
Population	2,684Lowest	17,950Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.	42.8±4.1Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Montville 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%	25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.	$96,454±$11kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Montville and Hardwick 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.	$285,600±$13kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,187±$99Highest 16% below U.S.
	Montville and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.	$4,565Highest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick and Montville 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	#95 of 149 in CT
School district	Quabbin	Montville School District
High school in town	None in town	Montville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.2
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.