What stands out worked out from the figures below

Proctor has the most homeowners (86.3%).

Orleans has the most renters (35.9% rent).

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	Orleans
People
Population	1,586Highest	809Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT
	Proctor and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4%	19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Proctor and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Highest VT: 43.8%	24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Proctor and Orleans 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 8% below VT	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT
	Proctor and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,000±$20kHighest 35% below VT	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$200Highest 14% below VT	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT
	Proctor and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 22% below VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.4%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Proctor and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 38 yrs older than VT	1938 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 5% below VT	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	10%±5Highest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Proctor and Orleans 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

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.