Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Sutton vs Sheldon
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 the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Sutton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,239 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Proctor 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. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Sheldon 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% 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% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.7Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.