Compare towns
Proctor vs Orange vs Fairfield 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).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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.
| Measure | Proctor | Orange | Fairfield | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
957Lowest |
1,938Highest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Wolcott 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% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Orange 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor 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 |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Orange 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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.