What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Hardwick
People
Population	1,314Lowest	2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT
	Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7%
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT	$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT
	Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average	$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT	$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT
	Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Highest 5% below VT	$4,351Lowest 14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1962Highest 14 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	29 minHighest 23% above VT
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield 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	—	#68 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	—	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.