Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Sheldon vs Wells
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 affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Sheldon | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,794 |
2,267 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Wells 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±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.