Compare towns
Proctor vs Colrain vs Fairfield vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most people working from home (9.4%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Colrain | Fairfield | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
1,627 |
1,938Highest |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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 8% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 29% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ryegate and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Proctor and Colrain 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 | Mohawk Trail | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.