Compare towns

Proctor vs Sutton vs Williston 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).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.

MeasureProctorSuttonWillistonFairfield
People
Population
1,794
790Lowest
10,144Highest
1,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6.4
about the VT average
46.6±5.7Highest
8% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
42.3±2.7Lowest
about the VT average
Sutton and Williston 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%
17.3%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
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%±2.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Proctor and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6
VT: 7%
Williston 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
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$87,019±$22k
7% above VT
Williston and Fairfield 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
$231,100±$41k
27% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$320,600±$22k
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
—
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,056±$441
14% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,032
20% below VT
$3,975Lowest
21% below VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
$4,816
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Williston and Sutton 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%
12.4%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
6% below VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
9.4%±4.6
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Sutton 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 — — #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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.