Compare towns
Hardwick vs Bennington vs Pittsford
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 highest household income ($92k).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Pittsford has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | Bennington | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
15,249Highest |
2,892Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
47.7±6.3Highest 11% above VT |
| 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
37%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bennington 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 VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below 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 | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$213,300±$15kHighest 33% below VT |
$197,000±$33k 38% below VT |
| Bennington and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Bennington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 14% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington 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 VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| 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.