Compare towns
Worcester vs Brookfield vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Worcester | Brookfield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,486 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 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 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Brookfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Worcester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 22% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.