Compare towns
Ryegate vs Middlesex vs Wolcott vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ryegate | Middlesex | Wolcott | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,507 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 27 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wolcott School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| 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.