Compare towns
Elmore vs Worcester vs Castleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Worcester | Castleton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
831Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below 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 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Castleton 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest 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+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Elmore and Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Elmore and Castleton 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 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 | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.