Compare towns
Hardwick vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Walden has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Newfields | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
2,023 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Hardwick 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 39% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | Newfields 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 |
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.