Compare towns
Sandgate vs Hardwick vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Hardwick has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
Manchester has the most expensive homes ($455k 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 | Sandgate | Hardwick | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,965 |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Manchester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT |
| Manchester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,057±$76Highest 14% below VT |
| Manchester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| 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.