Compare towns
Walden vs Putney vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 48.8).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Putney | Middlesex | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
2,622 |
1,943 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest 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%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Middlesex 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 25% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
| Middlesex and Walden 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.