Compare towns

Exeter vs Hardwick vs Richfield

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 expensive homes ($243k median).
Hardwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Richfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureExeterHardwickRichfield
People
Population
913Lowest
2,965Highest
1,949
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-13.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
47.1±7.4
21% above U.S.
37±7.3Lowest
5% below U.S.
Exeter and Hardwick 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%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±10.5
U.S.: 17.2%
27%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hardwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Richfield and Hardwick 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.
$59,833±$14kLowest
26% 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±$39k
44% below U.S.
$146,400±$15kLowest
56% below U.S.
Exeter and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$875±$406Highest
38% below U.S.
$802±$72Lowest
43% 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
$2,926
6% below U.S.
$4,351Highest
39% above U.S.
$2,207Lowest
29% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±41.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±18.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Hardwick and Richfield 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%
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
4.9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter 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 — Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — Hazen Union High School None in town
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.