Compare towns
Hardwick vs Oakham vs Westhampton 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).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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 | Oakham | Westhampton | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,639 |
1,552 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Westhampton and Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Westhampton 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% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47%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% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Oakham 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. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 39% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Westhampton 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 | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
— |
| 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.