Compare towns
Brookline vs Hardwick vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Brookline | Hardwick | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Hardwick and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Hardwick and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Brookline and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 21% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.