Compare towns
Proctor vs Springfield vs Whitingham vs Fairfield
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).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Springfield | Whitingham | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
9,084Highest |
1,368Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Whitingham 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Springfield 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Whitingham 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 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Springfield High School | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
14.3Highest |
7.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.