Compare towns
Highgate vs Newcomb vs Proctor vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Newcomb has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Highgate | Newcomb | Proctor | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
490Lowest |
1,794 |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1Highest 52% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newcomb and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newcomb and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newcomb and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Newcomb and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$254,800±$47k 23% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,029±$202Highest 27% below U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.