Compare towns
Barton vs Windham vs Worcester vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Barton | Windham | Worcester | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,815 |
594Lowest |
831 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Windham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Worcester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 50% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | Lake Region Union High School | — | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
— | — | 8.6Lowest |
| 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.