Compare towns
Hardwick vs Montgomery 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).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k 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 | Montgomery | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest 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%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below 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 | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
| Proctor and Hardwick 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 |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6% 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 |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montgomery 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | 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.