Compare towns
Worcester vs Hardwick vs Grafton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
2,965Highest |
666Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest 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% |
5.2%±2.6 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±$17k 14% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Grafton 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±$174 4% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Grafton 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 |
$4,843 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 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 |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Athens Grafton School District | 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 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.