What stands out worked out from the figures below

Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

Chester has the most people working from home (14%).

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	Chester
People
Population	1,794Lowest	2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT
	Chester and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Proctor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chester 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%	33.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Highest VT: 7%
	Chester 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	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT
	Proctor and Chester 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	$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT
	Chester and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT	$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT
	Proctor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,032Lowest 20% below VT	$4,262Highest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4%	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Proctor and Chester 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%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7% VT: 73.2%	86.7% VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 6% below VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Chester and Proctor 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	—	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Proctor Junior/Senior High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7	8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.