Compare towns
Hardwick vs Highgate vs Bakersfield
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).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Highgate | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
3,528Highest |
1,109Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Bakersfield 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Highgate 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 23% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Bakersfield 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.