Compare towns
Barton vs Wells 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 the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,815 |
1,148Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Barton 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 |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Wells and Barton 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Wells and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,355 33% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 50% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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 Our Story | 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.