Compare towns
Lowell vs Highgate vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Lowell | Highgate | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest 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+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 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 | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
| Proctor and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | Lowell School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.