Compare towns
Woodbury vs Hardwick vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woodbury has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.
| Measure | Woodbury | Hardwick | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659 |
2,965Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±8.8Highest 26% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
| Woodbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Woodbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±14.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Woodbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Hardwick and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,545±$16k 4% above VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
| Hardwick and Woodbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,200±$57kHighest about the VT average |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Woodbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $875±$406 29% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,609Highest 9% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.3%±95.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Woodbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 43% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Woodbury 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.