Compare towns
Highgate vs Orwell vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Orwell | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,294Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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 VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Orwell and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.