Compare towns
Proctor vs Royalton vs Sheldon 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%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Royalton | Sheldon | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
2,752Highest |
2,267 |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Royalton 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% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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 |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Royalton and Sheldon 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Sheldon and Royalton 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 |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Wolcott 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 |
$4,675Highest 7% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | White River Unified School District #79 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
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.