What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 47.1).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hardwick	Plainfield
People
Population	2,965Highest	1,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S.	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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±$17kHighest 14% above U.S.	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,700±$39kHighest 44% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$406Highest 38% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Highest 39% above U.S.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick and Plainfield 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	—
High school in town	Hazen Union High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.