Compare towns

Proctor vs Orwell 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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.

MeasureProctorOrwellWolcott
People
Population
1,794Highest
1,294Lowest
1,507
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
47.5±7Highest
10% above VT
42.4±5.9Lowest
about the VT average
Orwell and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±5.4Lowest
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%
24%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.1%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Orwell 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%
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
31.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,167±$12kHighest
9% below VT
$70,417±$22k
13% below VT
$70,259±$10kLowest
13% below VT
Proctor and Orwell 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
$335,600±$25kHighest
6% above VT
$221,300±$23k
30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
$1,105±$51Highest
10% below VT
$1,059±$118
14% below VT
Orwell and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,032Highest
20% below VT
$3,914Lowest
22% below VT
$3,930
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.3%±16.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
62.1%±35.9
VT: 48.4%
75.7%±21.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wolcott and Orwell 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%
10.8%
VT: 10.1%
9.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
87.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
27 minHighest
15% above VT
27 min
13% above VT
Work from home
9.4%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Wolcott and Orwell 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 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Wolcott 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 Our Story 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.