Compare towns
Fairfield vs Proctor vs Wallingford vs Wolcott
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%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Fairfield | Proctor | Wallingford | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,794 |
2,286Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Wallingford and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Proctor 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | 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 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.