Compare towns

Walden vs Arkwright vs Hardwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Arkwright has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
Hardwick has the most renters (23.6% rent).

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.

MeasureWaldenArkwrightHardwick
People
Population
1,037
859Lowest
2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±3.2
25% above U.S.
50.8±7.2Highest
31% above U.S.
47.1±7.4Lowest
21% above U.S.
Arkwright 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
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Arkwright 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
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
27%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hardwick and Arkwright 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
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Walden and Arkwright 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
9% above U.S.
$93,000±$26kHighest
15% above U.S.
$92,297±$17k
14% above U.S.
Arkwright 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±$23kHighest
28% below U.S.
$170,900±$30kLowest
49% below U.S.
$184,700±$39k
44% below U.S.
Walden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$136Highest
36% below U.S.
$875±$689Lowest
38% below U.S.
$875±$406Lowest
38% below U.S.
Walden and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,944
26% above U.S.
$3,760Lowest
21% above U.S.
$4,351Highest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±65.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±41.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Walden and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
76.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
21.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
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 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

U.S. 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.