Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Springfield vs Worcester
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).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
2,267 |
9,084Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Springfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Proctor 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Springfield 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.