Compare towns
Fairfield vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Fairfield | Middlesex | Worcester | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,943Highest |
831Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| 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.