Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Hardwick vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bloomfield | Hardwick | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 234Lowest |
2,965Highest |
683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±12Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±14.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bloomfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,375±$17kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$57,917±$13k 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,600±$63k 43% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$196,400±$29kHighest 41% below U.S. |
| Columbia and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $875±$406Highest 38% below U.S. |
$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,800 10% below U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Columbia 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.