Compare towns
Walden vs Reading vs Fletcher 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Reading | Fletcher | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
699Lowest |
1,196 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fletcher and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Reading and Fletcher 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Fletcher and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Walden 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Fletcher 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 | 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 | 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.