Compare towns
Worcester vs Hardwick vs Grafton
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 most people working from home (23.6%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
2,965Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Worcester 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton 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±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Hardwick and Grafton 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 |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Worcester 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 |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Worcester 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 |
$4,843Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Grafton 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 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| 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.