Compare towns
Proctor vs Ira vs Benson vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Fairfield has the most expensive homes ($321k median).
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 | Ira | Benson | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
381Lowest |
784 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Ira and Benson 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Benson 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% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Benson 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Benson and Fairfield 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Proctor 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Proctor 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 | 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 |
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.