Compare towns
Wolcott vs Bristol vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Wolcott | Bristol | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507Lowest |
3,778Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Bristol and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 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+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Bristol and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Bristol and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.