What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

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	Lancaster	Hardwick
People
Population	3,216Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% 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	20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Lowest 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+	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Lowest 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+	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest 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	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.	$75,000±$22kHighest 7% 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	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Highest 22% 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	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest 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	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest 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	#107 of 120 in NH	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.