Compare towns
Barnard vs Highgate vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Barnard | Highgate | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Barnard and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.


