Compare towns
Hardwick vs Proctor vs Walden vs Wolcott
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Walden | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,794 |
1,037Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Walden 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Proctor 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Walden 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±$12k 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Hardwick and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Walden and Wolcott 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 |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott and Proctor 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Walden 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Wolcott 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Wolcott School District |
| 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.