What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putnam has the most expensive homes ($266k median).

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	Putnam
People
Population	2,965Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
	Putnam and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam 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±$17kLowest 14% above U.S.	$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Putnam 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 44% below U.S.	$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Putnam and Hardwick 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.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Highest 39% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Putnam 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%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick and Putnam 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	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Hazen Union High School	None in town
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.