Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Windsor 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 people working from home (14.9%).
Proctor has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Windsor | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,586Lowest |
3,554Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Proctor and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7%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% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 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 | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% 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 | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 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 | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Windsor 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.