Compare towns
Hardwick vs Pomfret 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 kids (15.8% under 18).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Pomfret | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
12,795Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
37.5±4Lowest 4% below 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%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Walden 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% |
21.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Pomfret 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% |
41.4%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% |
22.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$57,746±$10kLowest 28% 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. |
$185,400±$19k 44% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$866±$43Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
| Walden and Hardwick 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. |
$4,459Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret 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% |
22.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Hardwick 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 | #211 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | FREDONIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | FREDONIA HIGH SCHOOL | 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 |
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.