Compare towns
Wolcott vs Jay vs Proctor vs Wallingford
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wallingford has the most expensive homes ($262k 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 | Wolcott | Jay | Proctor | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
471Lowest |
1,794 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Jay and Wallingford 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Proctor 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Wolcott 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15kHighest about the VT average |
| Wallingford and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$261,900±$44kHighest 17% below VT |
| Wallingford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
— | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Wolcott and Proctor 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Wolcott School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| 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.