Compare towns
Benson vs Hardwick vs Esperance
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 most expensive homes ($230k median).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Esperance has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271 |
2,965Highest |
248Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
48.6±11.9 25% above U.S. |
| Benson and Esperance 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% |
9.7%±11Lowest 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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Benson 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. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,333±$6k 9% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Esperance 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±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$191,700±$46k 42% below U.S. |
| Benson and Esperance 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. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Esperance and Hardwick 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Esperance 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.