Compare towns
Hardwick vs Stowe vs Middlesex
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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Stowe | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
5,285Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Hardwick and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Stowe 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
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| 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.