What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).

Hardwick has the most people working from home (8.7%).

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	Walpole	Hardwick
People
Population	3,690Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Walpole and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walpole and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Walpole and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S.	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Walpole and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick and Walpole 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	#27 of 120 in NH	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Fall Mountain Regional 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.