Compare towns

Hardwick vs Bow 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).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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.

MeasureHardwickBowPittsford
People
Population
2,965
8,335Highest
2,892Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±7.4
21% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% 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%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
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%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow 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.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$69,705±$7kLowest
14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$184,700±$39kLowest
44% below U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$197,000±$33k
41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$875±$406
38% below U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$781±$167Lowest
45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,351
39% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$3,378Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±41.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
18.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hardwick and Bow 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%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
11.8%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #68 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH #54 of 70 in VT
School district Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 Bow School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town Hazen Union High School Bow High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.6Lowest
12.8Highest
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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.