Compare towns
Proctor vs Jay vs Barton 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Jay | Barton | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
471Lowest |
730 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Barton 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
— | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barton 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | 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.