Compare towns
Orwell vs Hardwick vs Walden vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Orwell | Hardwick | Walden | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
2,965Highest |
1,037 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Walden and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest 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 | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Hardwick and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None 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.