Compare towns
Reading vs Hardwick vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Hardwick has the most renters (23.6% rent).
Sheffield has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Reading | Hardwick | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
2,965Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Hardwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| 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.