Compare towns
Hardwick vs Summit vs West Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Summit has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
West Rutland has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Summit | West Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
976Lowest |
2,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
55.7±7.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.8±5.1 23% above U.S. |
| Summit and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Summit and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Summit 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$74,375±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$61,161±$27kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
$150,000±$29kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$196,400±$27kHighest 41% below U.S. |
| West Rutland and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | $883±$151Highest 38% below U.S. |
| West Rutland and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,230Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$3,498 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±22.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Rutland and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Rutland and Hardwick 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.