Compare towns
Minot vs Hardwick vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Minot has the most homeowners (96%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
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.
| Measure | Minot | Hardwick | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,794 |
2,684Lowest |
5,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±6.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
44.2±9.4Lowest 14% 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Poland and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest 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. |
$85,557±$23k 6% above U.S. |
| Minot and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,900±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$283,600±$44kLowest 15% below 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±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,198±$128Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Poland and Hardwick 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. |
$2,774 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.6%±30.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Poland and Hardwick 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.8%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Poland and Minot 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 | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | Quabbin | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.