Compare towns
Walden vs Smithville 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%).
Smithville has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Hardwick has the most renters (23.6% rent).
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 | Smithville | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,525 |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2Lowest 11% 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% |
16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Smithville 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% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithville 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 9% above U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| 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±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
| Walden and Hardwick 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. |
$889±$186 37% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Walden and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest 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 | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school 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.