Compare towns
Hardwick vs Exeter vs Wolcott 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).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Wolcott has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Hardwick | Exeter | Wolcott | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
913Lowest |
1,507 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolcott and Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Walden 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. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$221,300±$23k 33% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,059±$118Highest 25% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Wolcott and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,930 26% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Exeter 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 | — | Wolcott School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.