What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barton	Hardwick
People
Population	2,815Lowest	2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT	47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT
	Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	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 VT: 21.4%	27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hardwick and Barton 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 VT: 43.8%	33.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.5Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Barton and Hardwick 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 VT	$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT
	Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,200±$28kHighest 36% below VT	$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT
	Barton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT	$875±$406Highest 29% below VT
	Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,355Lowest 33% below VT	$4,351Highest 14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	76.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT	1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 50% above VT	29 minLowest 23% above VT
Work from home	13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%	11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	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	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	Lake Region Union High School	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.