Compare towns
Hardwick vs Derby 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).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Hardwick | Derby | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
4,537Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Derby and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Hardwick 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% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest 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 | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Hardwick and Derby 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 |
$225,000±$10kHighest 29% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Derby and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,096±$118Highest 11% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Derby and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest 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 | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott and Hardwick 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Wolcott School District |
| High school 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 |
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.