Compare towns

Highgate vs Proctor vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).

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.

MeasureHighgateProctorSpringfield
People
Population
3,528Highest
1,794
1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±7.4
13% above U.S.
42.4±6.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
Springfield 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
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Proctor and Highgate 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 U.S. average
$74,167±$12kLowest
8% below U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
Springfield 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
16% below U.S.
$209,900±$17kLowest
37% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$691Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,029±$202
27% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Highest
22% below U.S.
Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,558Lowest
14% above U.S.
$4,032
29% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
37.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield 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 —
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
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U.S. 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.