Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ripton vs Reading 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
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 | Ripton | Reading | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Reading and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.