Compare towns
Hardwick vs Proctor vs Ira
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 people working from home (11.8%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,794 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Ira 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±$12k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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 |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Proctor and Ira 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 |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — |
| High school 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 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.