Compare towns
Proctor vs Waterville vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Waterville | Middlesex | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
680Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Waterville and Middlesex 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% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Middlesex 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Middlesex 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±$27k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Wolcott 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wolcott School District |
| 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.