Compare towns
Hardwick vs Epping vs Barton vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Barton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Epping | Barton | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965 |
7,430Highest |
2,815 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.9±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Walden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Walden 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 U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 44% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$201,200±$28k 40% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$793±$70Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 39% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,355Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Epping School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Epping High School | Lake Region Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
9.3 |
10.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.