Compare towns
Hardwick vs Strafford vs Tunbridge
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Strafford | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,372 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford 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 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$89,464±$26kLowest 10% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Hardwick 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.