Compare towns
Hardwick vs Andover vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
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 | Hardwick | Andover | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
616Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Andover and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
| Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Andover and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 14% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Walden 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.