Compare towns
Wilder vs Hardwick vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Wilder | Hardwick | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,965 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Wilder 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 | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.