Compare towns
Hardwick vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Walden has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Williston | Walden | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965 |
10,144Highest |
1,037 |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Williston and Elmore 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 14% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.