Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Bennington vs Williamstown
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 expensive homes ($281k median).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Bennington | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,794Lowest |
15,249Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Bennington 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%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Williamstown 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Williamstown 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±$12k 9% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Bennington 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
9.5 |
| 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.