Compare towns
Chester vs Hardwick vs Pittsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Pittsford has the shortest commute (25 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 | Chester | Hardwick | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,965 |
2,892Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±6.3 11% above VT |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
37%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$69,705±$7k 14% below VT |
| Hardwick and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$197,000±$33k 38% below VT |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Chester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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| 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.