Compare towns
Barton vs Springfield vs Hardwick
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%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Springfield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,815Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Springfield 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 |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Barton and Springfield 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 |
$963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Springfield 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 50% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 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 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | Lake Region Union High School | Springfield High School | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
14.3Highest |
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.