Compare towns
Hardwick vs Plainfield vs Wallingford vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Wallingford | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,016Lowest |
2,286 |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest 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±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
| Wallingford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
$974±$72Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Barnet and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 39% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
$4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | — | 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 |
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.