Compare towns
Hardwick vs Jay vs Sheldon 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Jay | Sheldon | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
471Lowest |
2,267 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Jay 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Hardwick 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Walden 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 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 | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below 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 | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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 | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.