Compare towns

Worcester vs Hardwick vs Westminster vs Windham

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 homeowners (85.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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.

MeasureWorcesterHardwickWestminsterWindham
People
Population
831
2,965Highest
497Lowest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
— —
Median age
47±2.7
9% above VT
47.1±7.4Highest
9% above VT
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
44.2±7.4
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%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Windham 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%
19.7%±11.4
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Hardwick and Windham 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%
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.4
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Hardwick 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
$81,000±$22k
about the VT average
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham 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
$313,600±$39k
about the VT average
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Highest
17% below VT
$875±$406
29% below VT
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
—
Worcester and Hardwick 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
$4,480
11% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
48.6%±41.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Hardwick and Windham 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%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.1%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1962
14 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
22% above VT
29 min
23% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Westminster 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 #53 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 — —
High school in town None in town Hazen Union High School — —
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.