Compare towns
Barton vs Hardwick vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Hardwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,815 |
2,965Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 50% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Barton 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 History | None yet | 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.