Compare towns
Castleton vs Proctor vs Ripton 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).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Castleton | Proctor | Ripton | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,794 |
508Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Ripton 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.