Compare towns
Proctor vs Jay vs Strafford 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
471Lowest |
1,372 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%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 |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Fairfield 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Strafford and Fairfield 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Jay 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.