Compare towns
Highgate vs Proctor vs Waterville vs Troy
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).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Waterville | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,794 |
680Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Waterville and Troy 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Troy 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy 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±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Waterville 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 |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Proctor 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Troy 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.