Compare towns
Brookfield vs Elmore vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Elmore | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
964Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
| Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above VT |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.