What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Strafford
People
Population	2,684Lowest	4,306Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.	46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Strafford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Strafford 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%	19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Strafford 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.	$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.	$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Strafford and Hardwick 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.	$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.	$6,086Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Hardwick 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%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford 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	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	Quabbin	Strafford 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.