Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Sheffield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,794 |
573Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Proctor 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% |
17.1%±6.6 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%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
17%±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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% 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% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% 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±$17k 34% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% 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% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Sheffield 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% 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 |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— | 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.