Compare towns
Hardwick vs Highgate vs Vernon
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 the most people working from home (14.9%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
3,528Highest |
2,709Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Highgate 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Vernon 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Vernon 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 |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Hardwick and Vernon 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±$21k 11% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District |
| 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 |
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| 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.