Compare towns
Wolcott vs Reading 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 the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Reading | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507 |
699Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Reading and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.