What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).

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	Salisbury	Hardwick
People
Population	1,609Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Salisbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury 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	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	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.