Compare towns

Hardwick vs Danby 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 affordable homes ($185k median).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

MeasureHardwickDanbyWallingford
People
Population
2,965Highest
1,133Lowest
2,286
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.1±7.4
9% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
45.9±10.8Lowest
6% above VT
Danby 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%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Wallingford 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%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
23.9%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Hardwick and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.7%
VT: 43.8%
34.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.4
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Danby 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
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% 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
$272,400±$41kHighest
14% below VT
$261,900±$44k
17% below VT
Danby and Wallingford 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
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$891±$95Highest
28% below VT
Wallingford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,351Lowest
14% below VT
$4,543Highest
10% below VT
$4,355
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±41.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Hardwick and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962Lowest
14 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
23% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
25 minLowest
6% above VT
Work from home
11.8%±6
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Danby 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 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Mill River Unified Union School District #52
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

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.