Compare towns
Walden vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Lancaster | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% 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±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Walden and Lancaster 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. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | White Mountains Regional School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None 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.