Compare towns
Hardwick vs Wheelock vs Barton
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 highest household income ($92k).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Wheelock | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
717Lowest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Wheelock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Barton and Wheelock 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Hardwick and Barton 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 |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$201,200±$28kHighest 36% below VT |
| Barton and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Highest 29% below VT |
— | $793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Barton 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 Our Story | 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.