Compare towns
Pittsford vs Strafford vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Pittsford | Strafford | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,892 |
1,372Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±6.3 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
| Strafford and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,705±$7kLowest 14% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Strafford and Hardwick 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Strafford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Strafford School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.