Compare towns
Walden vs Stamford 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 most people working from home (21.4%).
Stamford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
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 | Stamford | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
963Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
49.4±5.5Highest 15% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
| Stamford 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% |
20.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stamford 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Stamford 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% |
34%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.5%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Stamford 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±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$88,646±$9k 9% above VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Stamford 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 |
$303,200±$25kHighest 4% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Stamford 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 |
$5,113Highest about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
95.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
31 minHighest 30% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Stamford 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 Our Story | 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.