Compare towns
Hardwick vs Dover vs Wolcott vs Elmore
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Wolcott has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
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 | Dover | Wolcott | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,466 |
1,507 |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest 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+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Dover and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Wolcott School District | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | 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.