Compare towns
Wolcott vs Middlesex 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 renters (20.5% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Proctor | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
1,943Highest |
1,794 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Middlesex and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer 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 |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | 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 Our Story | 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.