Compare towns
Proctor vs Strafford vs Whiting 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 most affordable homes ($210k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Whiting | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
1,372 |
532Lowest |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Whiting 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Whiting 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Whiting 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 | Strafford School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.