Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Ripton vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Ripton | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,794 |
508Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton 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%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Proctor 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
— | $1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wolcott 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 | 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.