What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoddard	Proctor
People
Population	1,072Lowest	1,794Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.	42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Proctor and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoddard and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Proctor and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.	$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S.
	Stoddard and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average	$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,029±$202Highest 27% below U.S.
	Proctor and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Highest 38% above U.S.	$4,032Lowest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoddard and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stoddard School District	Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school 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

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.