Compare towns
Hardwick vs Highgate vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k 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 | Hardwick | Highgate | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
3,528Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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 | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
9.8Highest |
8.7 |
| 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.