Compare towns
Proctor vs Princeton vs Wolcott
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Princeton has the most expensive homes ($521k 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.
| Measure | Proctor | Princeton | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794 |
3,529Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Princeton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolcott and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Princeton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Wolcott 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 8% below U.S. |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$221,300±$23k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,059±$118Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Wolcott and Proctor 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. |
$6,633Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,930Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott and Princeton 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #59 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Wachusett | 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 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.