What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).

Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hardwick	Brighton
People
Population	2,965Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT	45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Hardwick and Brighton 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%	18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brighton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27%±5.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Brighton and Hardwick 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%	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%	4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7%
	Brighton 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	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,700±$39kHighest 42% below VT	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT
	Hardwick and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$406Highest 29% below VT	$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT
	Hardwick and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Highest 14% below VT	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	55%±17Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brighton 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%	22%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT	1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 23% above VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%	12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Brighton 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	—
School district	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26	Brighton School District
High school in town	Hazen Union High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.