What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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	Sutton	Hardwick
People
Population	2,239Lowest	2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Sutton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.	$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Sutton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S.	$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.	$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Sutton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.	$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton 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	Kearsarge Regional School District	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.