Compare towns
Proctor vs Townsend vs Wolcott vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Wolcott has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Townsend | Wolcott | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
9,100Highest |
1,507 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Ryegate 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 8% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$70,259±$10k 13% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$221,300±$23k 33% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,059±$118 25% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 29% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,930 26% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolcott and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | North Middlesex | Wolcott School District | — |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.