Compare towns
Stowe 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
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Stowe | Hardwick | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
2,965 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
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 | 22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest 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+ | 66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 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 | $93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Stowe and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest 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 | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest 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 | Stowe Town 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 | Stowe High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.