Compare towns
Castleton vs Hardwick vs Middlesex vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Castleton | Hardwick | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,965 |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±2.7 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 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | 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.