Compare towns
Walden vs Montpelier 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 homeowners (93.8%).
Montpelier has the most expensive homes ($375k 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 | Montpelier | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
8,014Highest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier 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% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Montpelier 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% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Montpelier 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 8% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Walden 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.