Compare towns
Elmore vs Windham vs Wolcott vs Hardwick
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 homeowners (92.8%).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Wolcott has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.
| Measure | Elmore | Windham | Wolcott | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
594Lowest |
1,507 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
| Hardwick and Elmore 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest 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+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Elmore and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
— | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% 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 | $5,066 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 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 | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | Wolcott School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| 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.