Compare towns
Hardwick vs Williston vs West Rutland
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
West Rutland has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Williston | West Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
10,144Highest |
2,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47.8±5.1Highest 11% above VT |
| West Rutland 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.8%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$17k 14% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$61,161±$27kLowest 25% below VT |
| Williston and Hardwick 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$196,400±$27k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$883±$151 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 14% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,498Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
60.1%±22.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and West Rutland 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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 |
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.