Compare towns
Whitingham vs Hardwick vs Worcester vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Pawlet 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 | Whitingham | Hardwick | Worcester | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,368 |
2,965Highest |
831Lowest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
| Pawlet and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Hardwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Worcester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
| Pawlet and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 62% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Pawlet 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
8.6Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.