Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Topsham
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).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794 |
2,267Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Sheldon 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 |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% 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±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Sheldon and Topsham 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 |
$908±$398Lowest 26% 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 | $4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 16.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
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| 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.