Compare towns
Hardwick vs Rupert vs Walden vs Elmore
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).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Rupert | Walden | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
676Lowest |
1,037 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Rupert 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% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Hardwick 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 VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore 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 |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Rupert and Elmore 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 |
— | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore 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 |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Rupert 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.