Compare towns
Hardwick vs Strafford vs Warren
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 kids (23% under 18).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Warren 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Warren 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 |
$86,905±$16kLowest 7% 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±$40k 36% above VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
| Warren 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Strafford 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% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.