Compare towns
Waterville vs Hardwick vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Waterville | Hardwick | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% 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 | 20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 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+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 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+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% 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 | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest 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 | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
29 minLowest 23% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Highest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Fletcher School District |
| 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.