What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westhampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Westhampton	Hardwick
People
Population	1,552Lowest	2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S.	47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Westhampton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Westhampton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westhampton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,000±$7kHighest 24% above U.S.	$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Westhampton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,200±$24kHighest 24% above U.S.	$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S.	$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Westhampton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,476Highest 108% above U.S.	$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 11 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	14.1%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westhampton 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	Hampshire · Westhampton	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	Hampshire Regional High	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Highest	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.