Compare towns
Proctor vs Middlesex vs Northfield 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Middlesex | Northfield | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
1,943 |
5,920Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Northfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
— |
| 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.