Compare towns
New Braintree vs Williston vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Braintree has the most homeowners (89.8%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | New Braintree | Williston | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 973Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±4.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Braintree and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,500±$8k 23% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Williston and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,800±$27k 23% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$316 5% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Williston and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,508 77% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±51.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.