Compare towns
Proctor vs Bennington vs Wolcott vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Wolcott has the most expensive homes ($221k median).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Proctor | Bennington | Wolcott | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
15,249Highest |
1,507 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Bennington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Proctor and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$221,300±$23kHighest 30% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Bennington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 20% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1949 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Wolcott School District | — |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.