Compare towns
Walden vs Montgomery 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%).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k 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 | Montgomery | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,047 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Montgomery 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% 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 |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Highest 27% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Walden and Hardwick 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 |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 |
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.