Compare towns

Highgate vs Proctor vs Bakersfield

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).

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.

MeasureHighgateProctorBakersfield
People
Population
3,528Highest
1,794
1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4
about the VT average
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
46.4±8Highest
8% above VT
Bakersfield 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
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Proctor and Highgate 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%
22.4%±2.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Proctor and Highgate 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%
28.1%
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Proctor 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
$74,167±$12kLowest
9% below VT
$83,462±$18kHighest
about the VT average
Bakersfield 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
11% below VT
$209,900±$17kLowest
34% below VT
$271,300±$19k
14% below VT
Highgate and Bakersfield 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
$1,029±$202
17% below VT
$1,200±$327Highest
about the VT average
Bakersfield 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
$4,032Highest
20% below VT
$3,823
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Proctor and Highgate 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%
16.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
94%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7
VT: 16.9%
Highgate and Bakersfield 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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
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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.