Compare towns
Walden vs Marshfield vs Wells 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 the most people working from home (21.4%).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Marshfield | Wells | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
470Lowest |
1,148 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
19.4%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest 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% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Marshfield 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 |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above 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 |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$184,700±$39k 42% 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 |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Wells and Marshfield 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 |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Marshfield 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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 | 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.