Compare towns
Proctor vs Waterville vs Wolcott
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).
Wolcott has the most expensive homes ($221k median).
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 | Waterville | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794 |
17,077Highest |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
42.4±5.9Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Waterville 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% |
30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$70,259±$10k 13% below U.S. |
| Proctor and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$221,300±$23kHighest 33% below U.S. |
| Wolcott and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,059±$118Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Wolcott and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$3,930 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville and Wolcott 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 | — | #105 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Waterville Public Schools | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.