Compare towns
Elmore vs Mendon vs Worcester vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k 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 | Elmore | Mendon | Worcester | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
6,325Highest |
831Lowest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066 62% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,351Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Mendon 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 | — | #210 of 282 in MA | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Mendon-Upton | 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 | 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 |
U.S. 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.