Compare towns
Hardwick vs Becket 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 highest household income ($92k).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Becket | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,962Lowest |
2,892 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.7±6.3 23% above U.S. |
| Becket and Pittsford 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% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket 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±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$69,705±$7kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Becket 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. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$197,000±$33k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$781±$167Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Becket and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,378 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket 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 | — | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Central Berkshire | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.