Compare towns
Walden vs Castleton vs Brookfield 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k 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.
| Measure | Walden | Castleton | Brookfield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Walden and Hardwick 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Brookfield 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Walden 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 Our Story | 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.