Compare towns
Walden vs Castleton vs St. George 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 the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | St. George | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
4,453Highest |
812Lowest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.7±13.4 4% 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Castleton 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% |
53.6%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% |
5.9%±3.9 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 |
$109,464±$34kHighest 35% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| St. George 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 |
$376,800±$50kHighest 19% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| St. George and Castleton 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 |
$5,514Highest 9% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Castleton 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
91.1% 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 |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| St. George 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 | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school 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.