What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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	Newfield	Hardwick
People
Population	1,580Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.8±8.1Highest 36% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Newfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S.	$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S.	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,108±$119 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,402Lowest 23% below U.S.	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	49 minHighest 85% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	6.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick and Newfield 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
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	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.