Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Putney vs Vernon
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 oldest population (median age 44).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Putney | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,622 |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Putney and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Proctor and Vernon 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.