Compare towns
Hardwick vs Lowell vs Barton
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).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Lowell | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,070Lowest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Barton 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Barton and Lowell 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 |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$201,200±$28kHighest 36% below VT |
| Barton and Hardwick 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 |
$945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Lowell 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Barton 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% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 23% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
35 min 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Lowell School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| 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.