Compare towns

Proctor vs Jay vs Ripton 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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureProctorJayRiptonWolcott
People
Population
1,794Highest
471Lowest
508
1,507
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
42.4±5.9Lowest
about the VT average
Jay and Ripton 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%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.8%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Wolcott 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%
15.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.1%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton 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%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
48%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%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,167±$12k
9% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$70,259±$10kLowest
13% below VT
Ripton 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
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$221,300±$23k
30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
— —
$1,059±$118Highest
14% below VT
Wolcott 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
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,930
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.3%±16.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
75.7%±21.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wolcott and Ripton 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%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
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
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
27 min
13% above VT
Work from home
9.4%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±4.2
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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.