What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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	Temple	Hardwick
People
Population	1,363Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Temple and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,107±$15kHighest 17% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Temple and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S.	$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Temple and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Temple and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 124% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%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	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Temple 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	Contoocook 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.