Compare towns
Fairfield 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
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Hardwick has the most people working from home (11.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Fairfield | Hardwick | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,965Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Hardwick and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest 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 | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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 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.