Compare towns
Bennington vs Highgate vs Proctor vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Bennington | Highgate | Proctor | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
3,528 |
1,794Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Bennington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.8 |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.