Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Ira
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 most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,794 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Ira 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira 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±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Proctor and Ira 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Ira 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Proctor 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 | — |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.