Compare towns

Proctor vs Pawlet vs Fairfield

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).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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.

MeasureProctorPawletFairfield
People
Population
1,794
1,480Lowest
1,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
-3.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6.4
about the VT average
47.9±7.5Highest
11% above VT
42.3±2.7Lowest
about the VT average
Pawlet 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%
20.3%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield 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%
27.3%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Pawlet 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7
VT: 7%
4.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Pawlet and Proctor 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
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% below VT
$87,019±$22kHighest
7% above 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
$266,200±$44k
16% below VT
$320,600±$22kHighest
about the VT average
Fairfield and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
$1,153±$215Highest
7% below VT
$1,056±$441
14% below VT
Pawlet and Fairfield 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
$3,924Lowest
22% below VT
$4,816Highest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
42.6%±21.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Pawlet 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
VT: 10.1%
10%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1964
12 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
9.4%±4.6
VT: 16.9%
20.4%±8.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Pawlet and Proctor 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 Mettawee School District #84 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
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.