Compare towns
Hardwick vs Worcester vs Barnard
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Worcester | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
831Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Barnard 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Hardwick 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Barnard 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Barnard 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | 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.