Compare towns
Bristol vs Hardwick vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Bristol | Hardwick | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
2,965 |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Bristol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Hardwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Bristol and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Wolcott 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.