Compare towns
Hardwick vs Stowe vs Windham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Hardwick | Stowe | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965 |
5,285Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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 | 15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Stowe Town School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Stowe High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.