Compare towns
Hardwick vs Reading vs Wells
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 most affordable homes ($185k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Reading | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
699Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Reading and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Hardwick 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Wells 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Hardwick and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Wells 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 23% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 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.