Compare towns
Exeter vs Hardwick vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Hardwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Exeter | Hardwick | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$875±$406Highest 38% below U.S. |
— |
| Hardwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Exeter 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.