Compare towns
Walden vs Jericho vs Putney vs Hardwick
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%).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Jericho | Putney | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
5,114Highest |
2,622 |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Jericho 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 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Jericho 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 |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Walden 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% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| 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.