Compare towns
Walden vs Arkwright vs Hardwick vs Topsham
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 the most people working from home (21.4%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (23.6% rent).
Topsham has the most kids (18% 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 | Walden | Arkwright | Hardwick | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
859Lowest |
2,965Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest 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. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Arkwright and Topsham 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Arkwright 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% |
23.2%±4.8 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% |
28.1% 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%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest 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±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below 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. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$908±$398Highest 36% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Walden 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. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Walden 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest 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% |
90.3% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% 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% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hazen Union High School | 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 |
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.