Compare towns
Groton vs Hardwick vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Groton | Hardwick | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
45.4±5.3Lowest 5% above VT |
| Hardwick and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
| Waterford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$271,500±$22kHighest 14% below VT |
| Waterford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$875±$406Highest 29% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$4,238 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Hardwick and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.3%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterford and Groton 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.