Compare towns
Ludlow vs Highgate vs Proctor vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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.
| Measure | Ludlow | Highgate | Proctor | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 808Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,794 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Ludlow and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% 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 | $304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Ludlow and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Proctor and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 |
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| 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.