Compare towns
Wolcott vs Castleton vs Proctor vs Ryegate
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Wolcott | Castleton | Proctor | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
4,453Highest |
1,794 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest 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+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 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+ | 31.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Proctor and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1949 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott and Proctor 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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| 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.