Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Berlin 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Sheldon | Berlin | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
2,267 |
2,880Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Berlin 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Berlin 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Berlin 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berlin 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Berlin 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott and Sheldon 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.