Compare towns
Elmore vs Hardwick vs Ripton vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wolcott has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Elmore | Hardwick | Ripton | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
2,965Highest |
508Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wolcott School District |
| 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.