What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Hardwick
People
Population	3,778Highest	2,965Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT	47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT
	Bristol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Hardwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%	27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hardwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Bristol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT	$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT
	Hardwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT	$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT	$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT
	Bristol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Highest 19% above VT	$4,351Lowest 14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Hardwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	76.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% above VT	29 minHighest 23% above VT
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%	11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bristol 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	#31 of 70 in VT	#68 of 70 in VT
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.