What stands out worked out from the figures below

Proctor has the most expensive homes ($206k median).

Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% 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.

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

Measure	Proctor	Sheffield
People
Population	1,586Highest	190Lowest
Median age	47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT	32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT
Kids under 18	17.2%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%	34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheffield 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%	13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Proctor and Sheffield 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%	16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Proctor and Sheffield 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	$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT
	Proctor and Sheffield 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	$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT
	Proctor and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$200Lowest 14% below VT	$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average
	Sheffield and Proctor 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	$1,714Lowest 66% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.4%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4%	36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Proctor and Sheffield 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%	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.3%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 minHighest 5% below VT	21 minLowest 12% below VT
Work from home	10%±5Highest VT: 16.9%	8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Proctor and Sheffield 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.