Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Proctor vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Wolcott has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Castleton | Ira | Proctor | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
1,794 |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Ira and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 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+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Proctor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.