Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Hardwick vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Bakersfield | Hardwick | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.