Compare towns
Hardwick vs Fair Haven vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Hardwick | Fair Haven | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
2,724 |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Hardwick and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 23% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.