Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ripton vs Wheelock 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 renters (23.6% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Wheelock | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
508Lowest |
717 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest 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±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock 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% |
34.9% 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% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below 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 |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— | — | $900±$136Highest 27% below VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Wheelock 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 | — | 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 | 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.