Compare towns
Worcester vs Hardwick vs Middlesex vs Elmore
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Middlesex | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,943 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45±3.5 4% 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Elmore 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.