Compare towns
Brandon vs Proctor vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Brandon | Proctor | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,586Lowest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
| Brandon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest 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+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
28%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kHighest 28% below VT |
$206,000±$20k 35% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Brandon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| Brandon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1962Highest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Hardwick and Proctor 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| 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.