Compare towns
Walden vs Stratton vs Ripton 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%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Stratton | Ripton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
532 |
508Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Ripton 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.