Compare towns
Walden vs Exeter vs Cabot vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Cabot | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
913Lowest |
1,579 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
40.3±6.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Cabot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| 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±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$268,500±$77kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Cabot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,243±$354Highest 12% below U.S. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
| Cabot and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 26% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,639Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.