Compare towns
Walden vs Middlesex vs Mendon vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Middlesex | Mendon | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,943 |
1,113 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Middlesex and Mendon 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Middlesex and Mendon 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 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 |
27 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Mendon 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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.