Compare towns
Marshfield vs Highgate vs Proctor vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Marshfield | Highgate | Proctor | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,794 |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 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+ | 35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Marshfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Marshfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269 35% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | 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.