What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe	Hardwick
People
Population	5,285Highest	2,965Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT	47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT
	Hardwick and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hardwick and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7%
	Hardwick and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT	$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above VT
	Stowe and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT	$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT	$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT
	Stowe and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 42% above VT	$4,351Lowest 14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Hardwick and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	29 minHighest 23% above VT
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%	11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe 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	Stowe Town School District	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	Stowe High School	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	8.6Lowest
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.