What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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	Rye	Hardwick
People
Population	5,611Highest	2,965Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Rye and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rye and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.	$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Rye and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.	$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	#68 of 70 in VT
School district	Rye School District	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	None in town	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.6
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.