What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most kids (15.8% under 18).

Hague has the most expensive homes ($326k 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.

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

Measure	Hardwick	Hague
People
Population	2,965Highest	703Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S.	61.3±11.8Highest 58% above U.S.
	Hague and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Hague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	36.8%±10.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hague 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hague 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 U.S.	$81,845±$12kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hardwick and Hague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S.	$325,900±$124kHighest about the U.S. average
	Hague and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$406Highest 38% below U.S.	$714±$144Lowest 49% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Hague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Highest 39% above U.S.	$3,491Lowest 12% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.2%±50.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Hague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hague 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	—
High school in town	Hazen Union High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.