Compare towns
Wolcott vs Braintree vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Wolcott | Braintree | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507 |
1,026Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 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+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest 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 | $70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23kHighest 30% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Wolcott and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Wolcott and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930 22% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest 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 | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | Wolcott School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 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.