Compare towns
Hardwick vs Proctor vs Bakersfield vs Wallingford
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 most affordable homes ($185k median).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Proctor | Bakersfield | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,794 |
1,109Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Wallingford 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Wallingford 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest 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 | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Bakersfield 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 |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$891±$95 28% 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 | $4,351 14% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
8.7Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.