Compare towns
Walden vs Windham vs Hardwick vs Wells
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 the most people working from home (21.4%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Windham | Hardwick | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,432 |
2,965Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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. |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below 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±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$315,600±$74kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,363 8% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Windham 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.