Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Reading vs Sheldon
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 renters (19.3% rent).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Highgate | Proctor | Reading | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,586 |
699Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Reading and Proctor 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% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Reading 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 VT average |
$75,060±$12kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Reading 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±$21k 11% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Reading 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.