Compare towns
Hardwick vs Barre vs Pittsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Hardwick | Barre | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
5,572Highest |
2,892Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.7±6.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Pittsford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$69,705±$7kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$197,000±$33k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S. |
$781±$167Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 39% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,378Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Barre 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Quabbin | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.