Compare towns
Hardwick vs Wayne vs Wallingford
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).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,033Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Wallingford 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. |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Wallingford 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. |
$1,031±$304Highest 27% below U.S. |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 39% above U.S. |
$3,967Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,355Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Wayne 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Wayne 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 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town |
| 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.