Compare towns
Walden vs Braintree vs Castleton 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%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.
| Measure | Walden | Braintree | Castleton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% 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 |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Walden and Castleton 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Walden 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Braintree 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.