Compare towns
Hardwick vs Richmond vs Williston
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).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Richmond | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Lowest |
4,159 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Hardwick and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Williston 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 VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Richmond 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 VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Richmond and Williston 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 |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.