Compare towns
Hardwick vs Proctor vs Whitingham vs Walden
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).
Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Whitingham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
1,794 |
1,368 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| 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%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Whitingham 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above 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 |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Whitingham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Proctor and Walden 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
8.7Highest |
7.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.