Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lincoln vs Middlesex
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).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Lincoln | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,394Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Hardwick and Lincoln 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% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Lincoln 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% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17kLowest 14% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Lincoln 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 |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Lincoln 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 |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln 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% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Lincoln 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 | Lincoln Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.