What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).

Hardwick has the most kids (15.8% under 18).

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	Grafton	Hardwick
People
Population	666Lowest	2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT	47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT
Kids under 18	5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%	27%±5.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Grafton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Grafton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT	$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT
	Hardwick and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT	$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT	$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT
	Grafton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest 4% below VT	$4,351Lowest 14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4%	48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Grafton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	29 minHighest 23% above VT
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9%	11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Grafton 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	Athens Grafton School District	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	None in town	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.6
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.