Compare towns
Proctor vs Ripton vs Worcester 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Ripton | Worcester | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794Highest |
508Lowest |
831 |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| 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 20% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.