Compare towns
Hardwick vs Vernon vs Highgate
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).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Vernon | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
2,709Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Vernon 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 |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| 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.