Compare towns
Proctor vs Reading vs West Fairlee
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Reading | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Highest |
699Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Reading 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 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Rivendell Interstate 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 |
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.