Compare towns
Walden vs Gorham vs Hardwick vs Wells
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 the most people working from home (21.4%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Gorham | Hardwick | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
2,682 |
2,965Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Wells 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Walden 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. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below 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. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Wells and Walden 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. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Hardwick 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.