Compare towns
Wolcott 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
Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Ryegate has the most homeowners (84.7%).
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 | Ryegate | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507 |
1,059Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
| Hardwick and Wolcott 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Ryegate 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% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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 |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Wolcott 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 |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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 |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 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 | — | — | #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 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.