Compare towns
Barnard vs Hardwick vs Worcester vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Barnard | Hardwick | Worcester | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,965Highest |
831Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Barnard and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | 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.