Compare towns
Proctor vs Calais vs Highgate vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Proctor | Calais | Highgate | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
1,713Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.3±2.7 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 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Calais and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Calais and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 20% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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.