Compare towns
Walden vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
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 | Lee | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
5,719Highest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Lee and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Walden 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above 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±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 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 |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Lee | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.