Compare towns
Braintree vs Hardwick vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Braintree | Hardwick | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Hardwick and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
| Walden and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$900±$136Highest 27% below VT |
| Walden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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 |
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.