Compare towns
Proctor vs Nelson vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Nelson | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Highest |
648Lowest |
1,384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.3±5.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Proctor and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Irasburg 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 8% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$98,534±$13k 22% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$230,800±$22k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,063±$86 25% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 29% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,966Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17%±28.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Nelson School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.