Compare towns
Ira vs Proctor vs Highgate vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ira | Proctor | Highgate | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,794 |
3,528 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ira and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 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 | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.