Compare towns

Proctor vs Swanton 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 homeowners (86.7%).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Wolcott has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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.

MeasureProctorSwantonWolcott
People
Population
1,794
6,820Highest
1,507Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+4.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
43.7±5.5Highest
about the VT average
42.4±5.9Lowest
about the VT average
Swanton 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%
20.7%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.8%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Wolcott 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%
19.5%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
11.1%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Proctor and Swanton 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%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
31.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
3%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Proctor and Wolcott 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
$81,371±$14kHighest
about the VT average
$70,259±$10kLowest
13% below VT
Swanton 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
$285,100±$35kHighest
10% below VT
$221,300±$23k
30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
$1,257±$133Highest
about the VT average
$1,059±$118
14% below VT
Swanton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,032
20% below VT
$4,449Highest
12% below VT
$3,930Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
32.7%±14.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
75.7%±21.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
16.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
13%
VT: 10.1%
9.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
77.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
23 min
about the VT average
27 minHighest
13% above VT
Work from home
9.4%±4.6
VT: 16.9%
8.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Wolcott and Proctor 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 — #27 of 70 in VT —
School district Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Wolcott School District
High school in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.