Compare towns
Proctor vs Benson vs Wolcott
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%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% 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.
| Measure | Proctor | Benson | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Highest |
784Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Proctor 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson 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±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Benson and Proctor 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 |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Benson and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Benson 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 |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Benson 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wolcott School District |
| High school 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 History | 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.