Compare towns
Walden vs Bennington vs Concord 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%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Bennington | Concord | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
15,249Highest |
1,145 |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
49.8±6.6Highest 16% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Concord 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% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Concord 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% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Concord 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% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Bennington 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±$15k 8% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$73,304±$9k 10% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
| Walden and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,111±$29 10% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Bennington and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington 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 VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.6% VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| 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.