Compare towns
Stratton vs Hardwick vs Jamaica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Stratton | Hardwick | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
2,965Highest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
| Jamaica and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Jamaica and Hardwick 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±$17k 14% above VT |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Stratton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$870±$464Lowest 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 | $4,750 6% below VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,773Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.