Compare towns
Walden vs Jasper 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%).
Jasper has the most kids (33.6% under 18).
Hardwick has the most renters (23.6% rent).
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 | Jasper | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,308 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
37.3±7.4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
33.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Walden 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% |
25.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.2%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$80,588±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$123,600±$13kLowest 63% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
| Walden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
$658±$149Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
| Walden and Hardwick 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. |
$2,250Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±54.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Jasper 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 |
| 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 |
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.