What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

Hardwick has the most people working from home (11.8%).

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	Stratton	Hardwick
People
Population	532Lowest	2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3% VT: +2.8%
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT	47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%	27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	33.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7%
	Hardwick and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT	$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above VT
	Stratton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT	$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average	$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT
	Stratton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Highest 6% below VT	$4,351Lowest 14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Hardwick and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	76.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT	1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 39% above VT	29 minLowest 23% above VT
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Hardwick and Stratton 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.