What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

Hardwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

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	Brookfield	Hardwick
People
Population	2,150Lowest	2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±6.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S.	$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S.	$184,700±$39kHighest 44% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$75Highest 31% below U.S.	$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,197Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,351Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick and Brookfield 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

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.