Compare towns
Hardwick vs Jay vs Pittsford 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 highest household income ($92k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wallingford has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Jay | Pittsford | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
471Lowest |
2,892 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±6.3 11% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Jay and Pittsford 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pittsford 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,705±$7kLowest 14% 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$197,000±$33k 38% below VT |
$261,900±$44kHighest 17% below VT |
| Wallingford and Jay 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 |
— | $781±$167Lowest 37% 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 | $4,351 14% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | #54 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.