Compare towns
Hardwick vs Middlesex vs Putney 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 most affordable homes ($185k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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 | Putney | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Middlesex and Hardwick 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±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$793±$70 36% below VT |
| Middlesex and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 14% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #38 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.