What stands out worked out from the figures below

Proctor has the most kids (17.2% under 18).

Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Proctor	Jefferson
People
Population	1,586Highest	1,226Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S.	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Proctor and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Proctor and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,060±$12kHighest 7% below U.S.	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Proctor and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,000±$20kHighest 38% below U.S.	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.
	Proctor and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$200 25% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 26% above U.S.	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.4%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.