Compare towns
Wolcott vs Middlesex vs Plainfield 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
1,943Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Plainfield 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$10k 13% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Plainfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Wolcott School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 |
| 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.