Compare towns
Fletcher vs Hardwick vs Waterville vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Fletcher | Hardwick | Waterville | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
2,965Highest |
680Lowest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
| Waterville and Fletcher 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| 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±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Waterville 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield and Fletcher 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.