Compare towns
Worcester vs Hardwick vs Middlesex vs Stowe
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 highest household income ($110k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,965 |
1,943 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%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 |
46.3±7.6 7% 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Stowe 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest 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% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| 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% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Worcester 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.