Compare towns
Walden vs Springfield vs Hardwick vs Topsham
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 most people working from home (21.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Springfield | Hardwick | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
9,084Highest |
2,965 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Topsham 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Hardwick 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| 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 25% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Walden and Topsham 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 |
$963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Springfield and Topsham 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.