Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs Pittsford
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% 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 | Ripton | Plainfield | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
508Lowest |
1,314 |
2,892 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±6.3 11% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$69,705±$7k 14% below VT |
| Ripton 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 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$197,000±$33k 38% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Plainfield and Hardwick 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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 |
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.