Compare towns
Hardwick vs Arlington vs Wolcott
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).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Hardwick | Arlington | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
2,598 |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Arlington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Arlington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 14% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Arlington School District | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.