Compare towns

Walden vs Newfields 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 the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k 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.

MeasureWaldenNewfieldsHardwick
People
Population
1,037Lowest
2,023
2,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±3.2Highest
25% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
47.1±7.4
21% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Newfields 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
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hardwick and Walden 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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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
9% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$92,297±$17k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$238,900±$23k
28% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$184,700±$39kLowest
44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$136
36% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$875±$406Lowest
38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,944Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,351
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±41.3
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
21.4%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 — — #68 of 70 in VT
School district Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Newfields School District 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

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.