Compare towns
Benson vs Hardwick vs Bleecker vs German
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).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Bleecker has the most people working from home (13.1%).
German has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Benson | Hardwick | Bleecker | German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
2,965Highest |
563 |
274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
53.8±5.8 38% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and German 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% |
15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and German 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% |
27%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±7.5 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% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| German and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$67,813±$11kLowest 16% below 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. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$112,500±$15kLowest 66% 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 | — | $875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$950±$286Highest 33% below U.S. |
$817±$260Lowest 42% 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 | $2,528 19% below U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,893 25% above U.S. |
$1,844Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and German 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | 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.