Compare towns
Walden vs Dummerston vs Hardwick vs Cabot
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%).
Dummerston has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Dummerston | Hardwick | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
2,090 |
2,965Highest |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Hardwick 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
| Dummerston and Cabot 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,243±$354 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Hardwick 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.