Compare towns
Hardwick vs Stratton vs Whiting 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).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Stratton | Whiting | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
532Lowest |
532Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Walden 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.