Compare towns
Wolcott vs Mendon vs Ryegate vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Mendon | Ryegate | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
1,113 |
1,059Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Mendon and Hardwick 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Mendon and Wolcott 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wolcott 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school 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 | 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.