Compare towns
Highgate vs Hardwick vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Highgate | Hardwick | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,965 |
2,286Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Hardwick and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest 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 | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.