Compare towns
Orange vs Hardwick vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($243k 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 | Orange | Hardwick | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,965Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Orange and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Hardwick and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$243,000±$70kHighest 23% below VT |
| Groton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Orange and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Groton 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | — |
| 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.