Compare towns
Grafton vs Hardwick vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Grafton | Hardwick | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
2,965Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Hardwick and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Highest 4% below VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Grafton 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.