Compare towns
Hardwick vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Westminster | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
497Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Westminster 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest 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±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Hardwick and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
| Worcester and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,480Highest 11% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.