Compare towns
Walden vs Hardwick vs Wells vs Topsham
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 most people working from home (21.4%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% 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 | Hardwick | Wells | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
2,965Highest |
1,148 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Wells 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% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Wells 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| 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 25% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| 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 27% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Wells and Topsham 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 |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.