What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

Pomfret 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.

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

Measure	Hardwick	Pomfret
People
Population	2,965Lowest	12,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S.	37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Pomfret 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%	14.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hardwick and Pomfret 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%	21.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Pomfret 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 U.S.: 35.7%	41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	22.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S.	$57,746±$10kLowest 28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S.	$185,400±$19kHighest 44% below U.S.
	Pomfret and Hardwick 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.	$866±$43Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S.	$4,459Highest 43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.1%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pomfret and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±4 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 70 in VT	#211 of 484 in NY
School district	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26	FREDONIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Hazen Union High School	FREDONIA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	10.0Highest
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.