Compare towns
Proctor vs Jay vs Vernon 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 most affordable homes ($210k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Vernon has the most expensive homes ($285k median).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Vernon | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
471Lowest |
2,709Highest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Vernon 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% |
15.1%±3.6 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% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Wolcott 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 |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Vernon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
— | $1,023±$214Lowest 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wolcott 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Vernon School District | 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.