Compare towns
Proctor vs Walden vs Wells 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).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Walden | Wells | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
1,037Lowest |
1,148 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Proctor 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Walden 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±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Wells and Fairfield 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Wells 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.