Compare towns
Proctor vs Jay vs Calais 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
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 | Calais | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794Highest |
471Lowest |
1,713 |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±5.9 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Calais 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Calais 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±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Calais 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983 7 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 |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Calais 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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.