Compare towns

Fletcher vs Hardwick vs Fairfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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.

MeasureFletcherHardwickFairfield
People
Population
1,196Lowest
2,965Highest
1,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.7±7.3Highest
13% above VT
47.1±7.4
9% above VT
42.3±2.7Lowest
about the VT average
Fletcher and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.7%±4
VT: 21.4%
27%±5.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Hardwick and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.3%
VT: 43.8%
33.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.4
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
Fairfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,833±$9kHighest
30% above VT
$92,297±$17k
14% above VT
$87,019±$22kLowest
7% above VT
Fletcher and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$302,100±$37k
5% below VT
$184,700±$39kLowest
42% below VT
$320,600±$22kHighest
about the VT average
Fairfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,679±$427Highest
36% above VT
$875±$406Lowest
29% below VT
$1,056±$441
14% below VT
Fletcher and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,965Highest
about the VT average
$4,351Lowest
14% below VT
$4,816
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±78.3
VT: 48.4%
48.6%±41.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Hardwick and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
1962Lowest
14 yrs older than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
37% above VT
29 min
23% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
12.3%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±6
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Fletcher 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 Fletcher School District Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
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 History 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.