Compare towns
Williamstown vs Proctor vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Barre has the most expensive homes ($281k 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 | Williamstown | Proctor | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579 |
1,794Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
| Barre and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,524±$399 24% above VT |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Barre 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.