Compare towns
Pittsford vs Castleton vs Chester vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Hardwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
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 | Pittsford | Castleton | Chester | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,892Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,992 |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±6.3 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,705±$7k 14% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,000±$33k 38% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Chester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,378 33% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #54 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.