Compare towns
Hardwick vs Wayne vs Barton
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 the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Wayne | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,033Lowest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.9±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Hardwick 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barton 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±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$201,200±$28k 40% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Highest 27% below U.S. |
$793±$70Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Wayne 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. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,355Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | — | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| 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.