Compare towns
Hardwick vs Brandon vs Wallingford
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 people working from home (11.8%).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Wallingford has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
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 | Brandon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
4,120Highest |
2,286Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Brandon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Wallingford 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% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Hardwick 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 |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Wallingford 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 |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$261,900±$44kHighest 17% below VT |
| Wallingford and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| Brandon and Wallingford 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 |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Hardwick and Brandon 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
9.9Highest |
— |
| 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.