Compare towns
Benson vs Bleecker vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
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 | Benson | Bleecker | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
563 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15kHighest 31% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Benson and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $950±$286Highest 33% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Bleecker and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,893 25% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bleecker 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 | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | — | — | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.