Compare towns
Proctor vs Bristol 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%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
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 | Bristol | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794 |
3,778Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Bristol 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% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest 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%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Bristol 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% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol 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 |
$74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Bristol 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 |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Bristol 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 |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Bristol 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% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.