Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Hardwick vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Hardwick | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
2,267 |
2,965Highest |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT |
| Hardwick and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 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+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT |
| Irasburg and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,063±$86 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 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 | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.