Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Williamstown 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 most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Williamstown | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest 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%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Williamstown 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% |
17.6% 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% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Williamstown 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±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Sheldon and Williamstown 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±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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 |
$3,841 24% 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% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Wolcott 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.