Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ira vs Benson
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).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Ira and Benson 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Hardwick and Benson 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 |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Ira and Benson 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 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.