The Town FilesHardwick, Vermont
Town in Caledonia County · population 2,920 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,700
- Household income
- $92,297
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 119 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 47.1
Hardwick is a town of 2,920 people in Caledonia County, Vermont. The median home is worth $184,700, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks more walkable than 84% of Vermont towns, more vibrant than 73% of Vermont towns.
How Hardwick ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hardwick is worth $184,700, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $92,297, which is more affordable than 99% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $875 a month. 76.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hardwick | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,700 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $875 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $92,297 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 76.4% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.8% | — |
Who lives in Hardwick
| People | Hardwick | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.7% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.9% | 89.3% |
Weather in Hardwick
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 118.9 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Hardwick since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 5, 2010 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 4, 1974.
Severe weather in Caledonia County since 1996
Caledonia County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Flood | DR-4826: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Caledonia County
Caledonia County had 11,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,371 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Hardwick itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Hardwick
2 public schools with 515 students, about 9.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazen Union High School | 7-12 | 281 | 8.8 |
| Hardwick Elementary School | PK-6 | 234 | 11.1 |
Towns near Hardwick
- Hyde Park, VT13.1 mi · 3,020 people · home $198,400
- Morristown, VT14.6 mi · 5,434 people · home $298,600
- Lyndon, VT16.7 mi · 5,491 people · home $227,000
- East Montpelier, VT17.3 mi · 2,598 people · home $378,700
- St. Johnsbury, VT17.4 mi · 7,364 people · home $177,700
- St. Johnsbury, VT17.8 mi · 5,994 people · home $174,500
- Stowe, VT18.1 mi · 5,223 people · home $647,800
- Johnson, VT19.0 mi · 3,491 people · home $169,400
Hardwick questions
Is Hardwick, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hardwick scores better for retirees than 20% of Vermont towns and quieter than 56%. 27.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Hardwick?
The median owner-occupied home in Hardwick is valued at $184,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,297, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $875 a month.
What is the weather like in Hardwick?
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 118.9 inches of snow.
Does Hardwick get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Hardwick since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 5, 2010. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)