Compare towns
Walden vs Putnam 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Putnam | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
540Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Putnam 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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
— | $875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Walden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Hardwick 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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.