Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lincoln vs Windham
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 the most homeowners (88.1%).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Lincoln | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,394 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Lincoln 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±$17kLowest 14% above VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Lincoln and Windham 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±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Lincoln and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Highest 29% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
— |
| Hardwick and Lincoln 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 |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — |
| 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.