Compare towns
Hardwick vs Middlesex vs Monkton 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 most affordable homes ($185k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 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 | Middlesex | Monkton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,943Lowest |
1,999 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.1±5.4Highest 9% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wallingford 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Wallingford 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$17k 14% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| Monkton and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Monkton and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,887 17% above VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | 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.