Compare towns
Barton vs Colrain vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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.
| Measure | Barton | Colrain | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,815 |
1,627Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,250±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,200±$28k 40% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$70Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,355Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Mohawk Trail | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | Lake Region Union High School | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.