Compare towns
Hardwick vs Jay vs West Rutland
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%).
West Rutland has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | West Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
471Lowest |
2,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.8±5.1 11% above VT |
| Jay and West Rutland 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% |
17.2%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Rutland 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% |
23.8%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and West Rutland 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hardwick and Jay 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 |
$61,161±$27kLowest 25% below VT |
| Hardwick and Jay 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±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$196,400±$27k 38% below VT |
| Jay and West Rutland 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 |
— | $883±$151Highest 28% below VT |
| West Rutland and Hardwick 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,498Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
60.1%±22.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Rutland and Hardwick 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and West Rutland 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| 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.