Compare towns
Barton vs Ripton vs Hardwick vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ripton | Hardwick | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,815 |
508Lowest |
2,965Highest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 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%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Hardwick 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 50% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 min 23% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Lake Region Union High School | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.