Compare towns
Wolcott vs Castleton vs Hardwick vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Castleton | Hardwick | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
4,453Highest |
2,965 |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Hardwick and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above 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 | $221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | 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.