What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).

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	Minot	Hardwick
People
Population	2,794Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49±6.1Highest 26% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Minot and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,655±$17kHighest 18% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Minot and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S.	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	16.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Minot 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	#78 of 133 in ME	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 16	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.