Compare towns
Hardwick vs Highgate vs Fair Haven
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).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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.
| Measure | Hardwick | Highgate | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
3,528Highest |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Hardwick and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Hardwick 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Hardwick and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Hardwick 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 23% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
9.8 |
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.