Compare towns
Pittsford vs Castleton vs Hardwick vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsford has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Pittsford | Castleton | Hardwick | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,892 |
4,453Highest |
2,965 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±6.3Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Pittsford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,705±$7kLowest 14% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above 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 | $197,000±$33k 38% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,378 33% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford 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 | #54 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.