Compare towns
Worcester vs Hardwick vs Elmore vs Calais
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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Hardwick | Elmore | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,965Highest |
964 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest 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 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Elmore 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Elmore 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 |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 22% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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 Our Story | 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.