Compare towns
Elmore vs Ira 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
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Elmore | Ira | Worcester | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
381Lowest |
831 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Ira and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Elmore and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Elmore and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| 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.