Compare towns
Hardwick vs Pittsford vs Wilder
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).
Pittsford has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Pittsford | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
2,892Lowest |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
47.7±6.3Highest 11% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT |
| Pittsford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Hardwick 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% |
37% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Pittsford 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 |
$69,705±$7kLowest 14% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Hardwick and Wilder 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 |
$197,000±$33k 38% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder 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 |
$3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Wilder 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% |
11.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wilder 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 | #54 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | 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.