Compare towns
Hardwick vs Summit vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most people working from home (11.8%).
Summit has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Worcester has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | Summit | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
976Lowest |
2,149 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
55.7±7.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.2±6.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Summit and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Summit and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$74,375±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$69,886±$23kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kHighest 44% below U.S. |
$150,000±$29kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$155,300±$43k 53% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Highest 38% below U.S. |
— | $736±$327Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,230Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$2,602 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.8%±41.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick 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 | — | — |
| High school 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 |
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.