Compare towns
Orwell vs Proctor vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Orwell | Proctor | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Lowest |
1,794 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Orwell and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.