Compare towns

Walden vs Addison vs Hardwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Addison has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).

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.

MeasureWaldenAddisonHardwick
People
Population
1,037Lowest
1,175
2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.8±3.2
13% above VT
53.1±7.6Highest
23% above VT
47.1±7.4Lowest
9% above VT
Addison and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.3%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Addison and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.1%±1.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
27%±5.9
VT: 21.4%
Addison and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
33.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1
VT: 7%
5.4%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Addison and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,000±$15kLowest
8% above VT
$106,667±$7kHighest
31% above VT
$92,297±$17k
14% above VT
Addison and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$238,900±$23k
25% below VT
$362,200±$23kHighest
14% above VT
$184,700±$39kLowest
42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$136
27% below VT
$2,019±$461Highest
64% above VT
$875±$406Lowest
29% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,944Lowest
22% below VT
$5,831Highest
16% above VT
$4,351
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.9%±62.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48.6%±41.3
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
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89.2%
VT: 73.2%
76.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1962Lowest
14 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% above VT
28 min
18% above VT
29 minHighest
23% above VT
Work from home
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Walden and Addison 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 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 — Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town None in town — Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.